Patents Assigned to Umicore
  • Patent number: 12221456
    Abstract: The invention relates to the use of a metal complex, which has at least one ligand of the formula R1—N3—R2, wherein R1 and R2 are hydrocarbon moieties, for depositing the metal or a compound of the metal from the gas phase. The invention further relates to methods for depositing metals from the metal complexes, and to metal complexes, substituted triazene compounds and to methods for the production thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: Umicore AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Joerg Sundermeyer, Susanne Pulz, Fabian Schroeder
  • Patent number: 12195869
    Abstract: The invention is directed to the use of electrolytic bronze deposits as substitutes for the noble metal electroplating of electronic circuits, e.g. for use in electronic payment cards and identity cards. The invention also relates to a novel layer sequence of bronze layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Umicore Galvanotechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Robert Ziebart, Guenter Wirth, Silvia Neuhaus, Stefan Mueller
  • Patent number: 12091427
    Abstract: Metal complexes of formula (I) are described: [M(L1)x(L2)y(hydra)z]n??formula (I) wherein: M=metal atom having an atomic number selected from the ranges a) through c): a) 12, 21 to 34, with the exception of 30, b) 39 to 52, with the exception of 48, c) 71 to 83, with the exception of 80, L1=neutral or anionic ligand, with x=0 or 1, L2=neutral or anionic ligand, with y=0 or 1, (hydra)=acetone dimethylhydrazone monoanion, with z=1, 2, or 3, n=1 or 2, and the total charge of the complex is 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Umicore AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Joerg Sundermeyer, Henrik Schumann, Wolf Schorn, Nicholas Rau, Annika Frey, Ralf Karch, Eileen Woerner, Angelino Doppiu
  • Patent number: 12060625
    Abstract: A process is divulged for recovering metals from a metal-bearing material containing, in oxidized form, more than 1% of Co, a total of Co and Ni of more than 15%, and more than 1% Mg, comprising smelting said metal-bearing material in a bath furnace together with slag formers, thereby producing an alloy phase with more than 80% of the Co, and less than 1% of the Mg, and a slag phase, by applying reducing smelting conditions, and by selecting CaO, SiO2, and Al2O3 as slag formers, in amounts to obtain a final slag composition according to the ratio's 0.25<SiO2/Al2O3<2.5, 0.5<SiO2/CaO<2.5, and MgO>10%; and separating the alloy phase from the slag phase. This process ensures quantitative recovery of Co in an alloy phase along with other metals such as Ni, while collecting Mg into a slag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: Umicore
    Inventors: Isabel Vermeulen, Harald Oosterhof, Luc Coeck, Elien Haccuria, Tijl Crivits, Thomas Suetens, Michael Baltes
  • Patent number: 11958042
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for synthesizing musk macrocycles comprising contacting an easily accessible diene starting materials bearing a Z-olefin moiety and performing a ring closing metathesis reaction in the presence of a Group 8 olefin metathesis catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Umicore AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Richard Pederson, Adam M. Johns
  • Patent number: 11952643
    Abstract: The present disclosure concerns a process for the concentration of lithium in metallurgical fumes. The process comprises the steps of: —providing a metallurgical molten bath furnace; —preparing a metallurgical charge comprising lithium-bearing material, transition metals, and fluxing agents; —smelting the metallurgical charge and fluxing agents in reducing conditions in said furnace, thereby obtaining a molten bath with an alloy and a slag phase; and, —optionally separating the alloy and the slag phase; characterized in that a major part of the lithium is fumed as LiCl from the molten slag, by addition of alkali or earth alkali chloride to the process. Using a single smelting step, valuable transition metals such as cobalt and nickel also present in the charge are collected in an alloy phase, while the lithium reports to the fumes. The lithium in the fumes is available in concentrated form, suitable for subsequent hydrometallurgical processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Umicore
    Inventors: Lennart Scheunis, Willem Callebaut
  • Patent number: 11926884
    Abstract: A 2-step high temperature process for recovering Ni, Co, and Mn from various sources comprises preparing a metallurgical charge comprising materials containing Ni, Co, and Mn, and Si, Al, Ca and Mg as slag formers; smelting the charge with slag formers in first reducing conditions, thereby obtaining a Ni—Co alloy comprising a major part of at least one of Co and Ni, with Si<0.1%, and a first slag comprising the major part of the Mn; separation of the first slag from the alloy; and, smelting the first slag in second reducing conditions, more reducing than said first reducing conditions, thereby obtaining a Si—Mn alloy comprising the major part of the Mn, with Si>10%, and a second slag. A Ni—Co alloy is produced, and a Si—Mn alloy is produced. The second slag is essentially free of heavy metals and therefore suitable for reuse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Umicore
    Inventors: Lennart Scheunis, Isabel Vermeulen
  • Patent number: 11918985
    Abstract: The invention is directed to ruthenium-based metathesis catalysts of the Grubbs-Hoveyda type. The new 2-aryloxy-substituted ruthenium catalysts described herein reveal rapid initiation behavior. Further, the corresponding styrene-based precursor compounds are disclosed. The catalysts are prepared in a cross-metathesis reaction starting from styrene-based precursors which can be prepared in a cost-effective manner. The new Grubbs-Hoveyda type catalysts are suitable to catalyze ring-closing metathesis (RCM), cross metathesis (CM) and ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP). Low catalyst loadings are necessary to convert a wide range of substrates including more complex and critical substrates via metathesis reactions at low to moderate temperatures in high yields within short reaction times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Umicore AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Herbert Plenio, Pavlo Kos, Roman Savka
  • Patent number: 11919783
    Abstract: The present invention relates to ?-nickel hydroxide doped with aluminum ions, in which the aluminum ions are homogeneously distributed in the crystal lattice of the ?-nickel hydroxide, as well as a method for their production. The present invention further relates to the use of the ?-nickel hydroxide according to the invention as a precursor material for the production of electrode material for lithium-ion batteries and nickel-metal hydride batteries and as a precursor material in the production of Raney nickel catalysts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Umicore
    Inventors: Armin Olbrich, Juliane Meese-Marktscheffel, Petra Scholz, Mirja Sternberg, Matthias Jahn, Rüdiger Zertani, Dirk Paulmann, Henrik Trümpelmann
  • Patent number: 11916224
    Abstract: A bimodal lithium transition metal oxide based powder mixture comprises a first and a second lithium transition metal oxide based powder. The first powder comprises particles of a material A comprising the elements Li, a transition metal based composition M and oxygen. The first powder has a particle size distribution characterized by a (D90?D10)/D50<1.0. The second powder comprises a material B having single crystal particles, said particles having a general formula Li+bN??bO2, wherein ?0.03?b?0.10, and N?=NixM?yCozEd, wherein 0.30?x?0.92, 0.05?y?0.40, 0.05?z?0.40 and 0?d?0.10, wherein M? is one or both of Mn or Al, and E is a dopant different from M?. The first powder has an average particle size D50 between 10 and 40 ?m. The second powder has a D50 between 2 and 4 ?m. The weight ratio of the second powder in the mixture is between 15 and 60 wt %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignees: Umicore, Umicore Korea Ltd.
    Inventors: Dae-Hyun Kim, Jens Paulsen, Shinichi Kumakura, YuRi Lee, Liang Zhu, TaeHyeon Yang
  • Patent number: 11909044
    Abstract: A precursor compound for manufacturing a lithium transition metal based oxide powder usable as an active positive electrode material in lithium-ion batteries, the precursor being either one of a metal-bearing M?-hydroxide, -oxyhydroxide or -carbonate, with M?=Ni1-x-y-zMnxCOyAz with x>0, y>0, 0.70?1-x-y-z?0.95 and 0?z<0.1, the precursor comprising having a core comprising a metal-bearing compound M?c and a shell comprising a metal-bearing compound M?s, wherein M?c=Ni1-xc-yc-zcMnxcCOycAzc with 0<xc?0.2, 0<yc?0.2, 0?zc<0.1 and 0.75?1-x-y-z?0.95, and M?s=Ni1-xs-ys-zsMnxsCOysAzs with 0<xs?0.25, 0.75<ys?0.95, 0?zs<0.1 and 0?1-xs-ys-zs?0.10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignees: Umicore, Umicore Korea Ltd.
    Inventors: Maxime Blangero, Liang Zhu, YuRi Lee, Kris Driesen
  • Patent number: 11846036
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrolyte and to a method for the electrolytic deposition of silver coatings and silver alloy coatings. The electrolyte according to the invention is cyanide-free, storage-stable and ensures the deposition of high-gloss, brilliant and white silver and silver alloy layers for technical and decorative applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Umicore Galvanotechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Sascha Berger, Klaus Bronder, Mario Tomazzoni, Uwe Manz
  • Patent number: 11848443
    Abstract: To provide a positive electrode active material of a lithium ion battery which has a large discharge capacity, excellent cycle characteristics, and suppressed gas generation. Resolution Means: A lithium metal composite oxide powder for use in a positive electrode active material for a lithium ion battery, the powder thereof having a composition of LiaNibCocAldO2 (wherein, a=0.8 to 1.2, b=0.7 to 0.95, c=0.02 to 0.2, d=0.005 to 0.1, and b+c+d=1) treated with an aqueous solution of an organic metal salt and soluble aluminum salt, and not causing volume expansion due to gas generation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Umicore
    Inventors: Takashi Shinpuku, Hiroshi Tani, Ralph Otterstedt, Keiichiro Kanao
  • Patent number: 11840674
    Abstract: Subject of the invention is a process for producing a biofuel from fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) obtained by transesterification of vegetable oils, comprising the steps of (a) ethenolysis of the fatty acid methyl esters in the presence of ethylene and an ethenolysis catalyst, and (b) isomerizing metathesis in the presence of an isomerization catalyst and a metathesis catalyst. The invention also relates to biofuels obtainable by the inventive process and to uses of ethylene for adjusting and optimizing biofuels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Umicore AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Lukas Goossen, Kai F. Pfister, Sabrina Baader
  • Patent number: 11804599
    Abstract: A crystalline precursor compound for manufacturing a lithium transition metal based oxide powder usable as an active positive electrode material in lithium-ion batteries, the precursor having a general formula Li1?a((Niz(Ni0.5Mn0.5)yCox)1?kAk)1+aO2, wherein A comprises at least one element of the group consisting of: Mg, Al, Ca, Si, B, W, Zr, Ti, Nb, Ba, and Sr, with 0.05?x?0.40, 0.25?z?0.85, x+y+z=1, 0?k?0.10, and 0?a?0.053, wherein said crystalline precursor powder has a crystalline size L, expressed in nm, with 15?L?36.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignees: Umicore, Umicore Korea Ltd.
    Inventors: Areum Park, Jihye Kim, Song-Yi Han, Jens Martin Paulsen, Kyung-Tae Lee, Randy De Palma
  • Patent number: 11772075
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to a catalyst for use in the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of nitrogen oxides comprising a monolithic substrate and a coating A, which comprises an oxidic metal carrier comprising an oxide of titanium and a catalytic metal oxide which comprises an oxide of vanadium wherein the mass ratio vanadium/titanium is 0.07 to 0.26.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Umicore AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Kim Hougaard Pedersen, Anders Hjordt Pedersen, Martin Dam
  • Patent number: 11777082
    Abstract: A negative electrode material for lithium ion secondary batteries, including composite material particles containing nanosilicon particles having a 50% particle diameter (Dn50) of 5 to 100 nm in a number-based cumulative particle size distribution of primary particles, graphite particles and an amorphous carbon material; the composite material particles containing the nanosilicon particles at a content of 30 to 60 mass % or less, and the amorphous carbon material at a content of 30 to 60 mass % or less; the composite material particles having a 90% particle diameter (DV90) in the volume-based cumulative particle size distribution of 10.0 to 40.0 ?m, a BET specific surface area of 1.0 to 5.0 m2/g, and an exothermic peak temperature in DTA measurement of 830° C. to 950° C. Also disclosed is a paste for negative electrodes, a negative electrode sheet, a lithium ion secondary battery and a method for manufacturing the negative electrode material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignees: Showa Denko K.K., Umicore
    Inventors: Yasunari Otsuka, Nobuaki Ishii, Nicolas Marx, Stijn Put
  • Patent number: 11702437
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing aqueous preparations of complexes of platinum group metals (PGM) Pt, Pd, Rh and Ir having the general formula [MA/MB/MC (L)a (H2O)b (O2?)c(OH?)d](OH—)e(H+)f, wherein MA=PtII or PdII, MB=PtIV, MC=Rh or Ir, L is a neutral monodentate or bidentate donor ligand, and a is an integer between 1 and 4 (or 2) and/or between 1 and 6 (or 3), b is an integer between 0 and 3 (or 5), c is an integer between 0 and 3 (or 4), d is an integer between 0 and 3 (or 5), e is an integer between 0 and 2 (or 3 or 4) and f is an integer between 0 and 4 (or 5). In the method according to the invention, the hydroxo complexes H2Pd(OH)4 (in the case of MA=PdII), H2Pt(OH)6 (in the case of MA=PtII and MB=PtIV) or H3MC(OH)6 (for MC=RhIII IrIII) are converted in the presence of the donor ligands, wherein at least one hydroxo group of the hydro complex is exchanged. Preferably, the reaction occurs at temperatures in the range of 40 to 110° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Umicore AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Eileen Woerner, Ralf Karch, Andreas Rivas-Nass, Angelino Doppiu
  • Patent number: 11667536
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the preparation of a molecular sieve of the CHA-type as well as catalytic applications thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Umicore AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Peter Nicolai Ravnborg Vennestrom, Nuria Martin Garcia, Manuel Moliner Marin, Avelino Corma Canos
  • Patent number: 11623874
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing metal carbonyls, wherein a reaction with a reaction mixture containing the following components is conducted in a reactor: (a) at least one metal carboxylate of formula (MeRx)w, wherein Me is a transition metal, R is a monocarboxylate having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, x=1, 2, 3, or 4, and w=1, 2, or 3, (b) carbon monoxide, (c) an aliphatic alcohol having 4 to 7 carbon atoms—preferably, butanol—and (d) a solvent, wherein the average dwell time in the reactor is less than 60 minutes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Umicore AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Rivas Nass, Ruben Ramon Mueller, Angelino Doppiu, Eileen Woerner, Ralf Karch