Patents Assigned to Umicore
  • Patent number: 7485599
    Abstract: An oxygen storage material comprising cerium oxide and at least one second oxide of a metal M1 is disclosed as well as a process for manufacturing the material and the use of this material in an exhaust gas cleaning catalyst. In a preferred embodiment the oxygen storage material comprises particles from a Ce/M1 mixed oxide solid solution coated with an oxide of another metal M2. Metal M1 e.g. can be calcium or zirconium while metal M2 most preferably is aluminum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Umicore AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Mamoun Muhammed, Othon Adamopoulos, Tassilo Bog, Lothar Mussmann, Dieter Lindner, Martin Votsmeier, Matthias Feger, Egbert Lox, Thomas Kreuzer
  • Publication number: 20080311027
    Abstract: The invention relates to the manufacture of high purity germanium for the manufacture of e.g. infra red optics, radiation detectors and electronic devices. GeCl4 is converted to Ge metal by contacting gaseous GeCl4 with a liquid metal M containing one of Zn, Na and Mg, thereby obtaining a Ge-bearing alloy and a metal M chloride, which is removed by evaporation or skimming. The Ge-bearing alloy is then purified at a temperature above the boiling point of metal M. This process does not require complicated technologies and preserves the high purity of the GeCl4 in the final Ge metal, as the only reactant is metal M, which can be obtained in very high purity grades and continuously recycled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2005
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicant: Umicore
    Inventors: Eric Robert, Tjakko Zijlema
  • Patent number: 7465690
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for making a catalytic element comprises forming a first slurry of a promoter oxide precursor and a refractory inorganic oxide and calcining the first slurry to form a supported promoter. The supported promoter and a noble metal solution are combined to form a second slurry that is calcined to form a catalyst composition. The catalyst composition is applied to a substrate and the substrate is calcined to form the catalytic element. In one embodiment, the catalyzed particulate filter comprises a shell disposed around the catalytic element, wherein the shell has an inlet and an outlet, and a retention member disposed between at least a portion of the shell and the catalytic element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Umicore AG & Co. Kg
    Inventor: Jiyang Yan
  • Patent number: 7462338
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an oxidation catalyst comprises a catalytic material disposed on a support. The support comprises boron modified alumina and about 10 wt % to about 50 wt % zeolite, based upon the total weight of the support. The boron is present in a sufficient amount up to less than or equal to about 7 wt %, based upon a total weight of the alumina, to selectively poison a portion of the alumina.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Umicore AG & Co. Kg
    Inventor: Barry W. Southward
  • Patent number: 7452843
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an exhaust treatment device includes: a substrate, a shell disposed around the substrate, and a retention material disposed between the shell and the substrate. The substrate includes a catalyst that includes a precious metal and a solid solution comprising solid solution metals, wherein the solid solution metals include yttrium, zirconium, and titanium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Umicore AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: William J. LaBarge, Joseph V. Bonadies, Joachim Kupe
  • Patent number: 7431895
    Abstract: An exhaust gas treatment unit for the selective catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides under lean exhaust gas conditions which contains at least one catalyst with catalytically active components for selective catalytic reduction (SCR components). The exhaust gas treatment unit is characterised in that the catalyst also contains, in addition to SCR components, at least one storage component for nitrogen oxides (NOx components).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Umicore AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Marcus Pfeifer, Paul Spurk, Jürgen Gieshoff, Yvonne Demel, Egbert Lox, Thomas Kreuzer
  • Patent number: 7399728
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a catalyst formulation includes a poison adsorbing material and a catalyst material. The poison adsorbing material comprises large particles having an average major diameter of greater than or equal to about 2.0 micrometers. The catalyst material comprises a precious metal support comprising small particles having an average major diameter of less than or equal to about 1.0 micrometers, and a catalyst material comprising at least one of ruthenium and iridium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Umicore AG & Co KG
    Inventor: William J. LaBarge
  • Patent number: 7374840
    Abstract: This invention relates to centrifugal atomized zinc alloy powders for alkaline batteries consisting of (a) 0.005-2% by weight of indium, and 0.005-0.2% by weight of either one of Al and Bi, or (b) 0.005-2% by weight of indium, and 0.005-0.2% by weight of Bi, and 0.001-0.5% of either one or both of Al and Ca, or (c) 0.005-2% by weight of either one or both of Bi and Al, and 0-0.5% by weight of Pb, the remainder being zinc. The powder is obtained by centrifugal atomisation in a protective atmosphere, where the oxygen content is less than 4% by volume. The resistance to corrosion in the electrolyte of the battery, especially after partial discharge, is markedly better than when the same alloys are prepared by the traditional production process. The capacity of batteries containing these powders is very good.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Umicore
    Inventors: Yvan Strauven, Bruno Gay
  • Patent number: 7371482
    Abstract: Methods of manufacture and use of phosphates of transition metals are described as positive electrodes for secondary lithium batteries, including a process for the production of LiMPO4 with controlled size and morphology, M being FexCoyNizMnw, where 0?x?1,0?y?1, 0?w?1, and x+y+z+w=1. According to an exemplary embodiment, a process is described for the manufacture of LiFePO4 including the steps of providing an equimolar aqueous solution of Li1+, Fe3+ and PO43?, evaporating water from the solution to produce a solid mixture, decomposing the solid mixture at a temperature of below 500° C. to form a pure homogeneous Li and Fe phosphate precursor, and annealing the precursor at a temperature of less than 800° C. in a reducing atmosphere to produce the LiFePO4 powder. The obtained powders can have a particle size of less than 1 ?m, and can provide superior electrochemical performance when mixed for an appropriate time with an electrically conductive powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignees: Le Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Umicore
    Inventors: Calin Wurm, Mathieu Morcrette, Sylvain Gwizdala, Christian Masquelier
  • Patent number: 7351382
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a particle filter to remove soot from the exhaust gas of a diesel engine. The particle filter contains a catalytically active coating on a filter body to accelerate bum-off during a regeneration phase of the soot particles collected on the filter. The particle filter comprises a catalytic coating containing compounds of barium, compounds of magnesium, and at least one element of the platinum group metals. The invention is further directed to a process for accelerated combustion of soot particles collected on the filter from lean exhaust gas of a diesel engine in which the soot particles have a soot ignition temperature and the particle filter is actively regenerated from time to time by raising the temperature of the particle filter above the soot ignition temperature and burning off the soot particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Umicore AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Marcus Pfeifer, Barry van Stetten, Christian Kühn, Roger Staab, Lutz Marc Ruwisch, Peter Kattwinkel, Jürgen Geishoff, Egbert Lox, Thomas Kreuzer
  • Patent number: 7351677
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process and a device for regeneration of a nitrogen oxide storage catalyst in the exhaust system of a diesel engine. The process comprises a first and a second regeneration strategy. The first regeneration strategy is applied when the exhaust gas temperature is above a threshold value and comprises changing the air/fuel-ratio from a lean to a rich value during a first regeneration period. The second regeneration strategy is applied when the exhaust gas temperature is below a threshold value and comprises switching the air/fuel-ratio back and forth between lean and rich air/fuel-ratios, forming a sequence of between 2 and 10 rich pulses and between 2 and 10 lean pulses during a second regeneration period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Umicore AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Friedemann Rohr, Peter Kattwinkel, Stefan D. Peter, Thomas Kreuzer, Egbert Lox
  • Patent number: 7313911
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of removing nitrogen oxides from the exhaust gas of a lean-burn internal combustion engine by selective catalytic reduction (SCR) using ammonia. The exhaust gas is routed first over a platinum-containing pre-catalyst and then over an SCR catalyst. The ammonia needed for the selective catalytic reduction is added to the exhaust gas upstream of the pre-catalyst at an exhaust-gas temperature below 250° C., while it is supplied to the exhaust gas between the pre-catalyst and the SCR catalyst at an exhaust gas temperature above 150° C. By adopting this procedure, a very large temperature range for the selective catalytic reduction with high nitrogen conversion rates is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Umicore AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Markus Pfeifer, Barry Van Setten, Paul Spurk, Yvonne Demel, Tobias Kuhl, Jürgen Gieshoff, Egbert Lox, Thomas Kreuzer
  • Patent number: 7312349
    Abstract: Diene-bis-aquo-rhodium(I) complex of the general formula [Rh(diene)(H2O)2]X where diene is a cyclic diene and X is a noncoordinating anion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Umicore AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Rivas-Nass, Gerhard Peter, Jürgen Widmer, Ralf Karch, Oliver Briel
  • Patent number: 7310940
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus of operating a drive system comprising an engine and an exhaust gas purification unit containing a catalyst, where the engine emits an exhaust gas having an exhaust gas temperature and the catalyst has a catalytic activity for the purification of the exhaust gas. In the method, an aging-induced decrease in the catalytic activity of the catalyst is compensated at least part of the time by increasing the exhaust gas temperature of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Umicore AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jürgen Gieshoff, Martin Votsmeir, Stephan Malmberg, Egbert Lox, Thomas Kreuzer
  • Publication number: 20070289707
    Abstract: A process for manufacture of integrated membrane-electrode-assemblies (MEAs), which comprise an ionomer membrane, at least one gas diffusion layer (GDL), at least one catalyst layer deposited on the GDL and/or the ionomer membrane, and at least one protective film material is disclosed. The components are assembled together by a lamination process comprising the steps of heating the components to a temperature in the range of 20 to 250° C. and laminating the materials by applying a laminating force in the range of 50 to 1300 N with a pair of rolls. The claimed lamination process is simple and inexpensive and is used for manufacture of advanced, integrated MEAs for electrochemical devices such as PEM fuel cells and DMFC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2005
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: Umicore AG & Co KG
    Inventors: Lutz Rohland, Claus-Rupert Hohenthanner
  • Patent number: 7297178
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process and a device (1) for the production of spherical metal particles (2) from a melt (3). In order to produce droplets a melt jet (8) is subjected to vibrations and is led through at least one nozzle (7). In order to produce spherical metal particles (2) the droplets at the outlet of the nozzle (7) are fed to a coolant (10) for purposes of consolidation. The nozzle (7) dips into the coolant (10), the temperature of the coolant (10) being below the melting point of the melt (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Umicore AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Bernd Kempf, Georg Ptaschek, Hans-Martin Ringelstein, Roland Fuchs, Calogero DiVicenzo
  • Patent number: 7297656
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a particulate filter includes a housing and a substrate disposed within the housing, the substrate comprising a catalyst composition comprising a single crystalline phase multiple metal oxide comprising platinum, wherein the substrate is designed such that gas flowing through the substrate, passes through a walls in the substrate prior to exiting the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Umicore AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Wenzhong Zhang, Karl C. C. Kharas
  • Patent number: 7288501
    Abstract: Process and apparatus for the thermal treatment of pulverulent substances, in which the pulverulent substance is dispersed in a carrier gas and is passed in a continuous manner through a heated reactor where it is thermally treated and is then quenched by a cooling medium and is collected in a gas-solids separating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Umicore AG & Co., KG
    Inventors: Emmanuel Auer, Peter Biberbach, Michael Gross, Andreas Gutsch, Markus Pridöhl, Karsten Ruth, Edwin Staab
  • Patent number: 7285307
    Abstract: The present invention provides a continuous process for producing catalyst-coated polymeric electrolyte membranes and membrane electrode assemblies for fuel cells. The process of the invention uses an ionomer membrane having a polymeric backing film on the back side. After the first coating step, the membrane is dried, during which the residual solvent may be almost completely removed. After this, the polymeric backing film is removed and the back side of the membrane is coated in a second step. The front and back sides of the membrane can be coated by various methods, such as screen printing or stencil printing. Two gas distribution layers are applied to the two sides of the catalyst-coated membrane to produce a 5-layer membrane electrode assembly. The membrane electrode assemblies are used in polymeric electrolyte membrane fuel cells and in direct methanol fuel cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Umicore AG & Co KG
    Inventors: Claus-Rupert Hohenthanner, Franz Greinemann, Peter Seipel
  • Patent number: 7268233
    Abstract: The invention relates to novel monocarbene complexes of nickel, palladium or platinum with electron-deficient olefin ligands, to their preparation and to their use in the homogeneous catalysis of organic reactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Umicore AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ralf Karch, Oliver Briel, Bernd Kayser, Matthias Beller, Kumaravel Selvakumar, Anja Frisch, Alexander Zapf