Patents Assigned to Virginia Museum of Natural History
  • Publication number: 20170291139
    Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, the invention relates to a process of sequestering carbon dioxide. The process comprises the steps of: (a) reacting a metal silicate with a caustic alkali-metal hydroxide to produce a hydroxide of the metal formerly contained in the silicate; (b) reacting carbon dioxide with at least one of a caustic alkali-metal hydroxide and an alkali-metal silicate to produce at least one of an alkali-metal carbonate and an alkali-metal bicarbonate; and (c) reacting the metal hydroxide product of step (a) with at least one of the alkali-metal carbonate and the alkali-metal bicarbonate produced in step (b) to produce a carbonate of the metal formerly contained in the metal silicate of step (a).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Applicants: UT-BATTELLE, LLC, UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE RESEARCH FOUNDATION, VIRGINIA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY FOUNDATION
    Inventors: James G. BLENCOE, Donald A. PALMER, Lawrence M. ANOVITZ, James S. BEARD
  • Patent number: 9718693
    Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, the invention relates to a process of sequestering carbon dioxide. The process comprises the steps of: (a) reacting a metal silicate with a caustic alkali-metal hydroxide to produce a hydroxide of the metal formerly contained in the silicate; (b) reacting carbon dioxide with at least one of a caustic alkali-metal hydroxide and an alkali-metal silicate to produce at least one of an alkali-metal carbonate and an alkali-metal bicarbonate; and (c) reacting the metal hydroxide product of step (a) with at least one of the alkali-metal carbonate and the alkali-metal bicarbonate produced in step (b) to produce a carbonate of the metal formerly contained in the metal silicate of step (a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignees: UT-BATTELLE, LLC, VIRGINIA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY FOUNDATION, UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: James G. Blencoe, Donald A. Palmer, Lawrence M. Anovitz, James S. Beard
  • Patent number: 8673256
    Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, the invention relates to a process of sequestering carbon dioxide. The process comprises the steps of: (a) reacting a metal silicate with a caustic alkali-metal hydroxide to produce a hydroxide of the metal formerly contained in the silicate; (b) reacting carbon dioxide with at least one of a caustic alkali-metal hydroxide and an alkali-metal silicate to produce at least one of an alkali-metal carbonate and an alkali-metal bicarbonate; and (c) reacting the metal hydroxide product of step (a) with at least one of the alkali-metal carbonate and the alkali-metal bicarbonate produced in step (b) to produce a carbonate of the metal formerly contained in the metal silicate of step (a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignees: UT-Battelle, LLC, University of Tennessee Research Foundation, Virginia Museum of Natural History
    Inventors: James G. Blencoe, Donald A. Palmer, Lawrence M. Anovitz, James S. Beard
  • Publication number: 20120128571
    Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, the invention relates to a process of sequestering carbon dioxide. The process comprises the steps of: (a) reacting a metal silicate with a caustic alkali-metal hydroxide to produce a hydroxide of the metal formerly contained in the silicate; (b) reacting carbon dioxide with at least one of a caustic alkali-metal hydroxide and an alkali-metal silicate to produce at least one of an alkali-metal carbonate and an alkali-metal bicarbonate; and (c) reacting the metal hydroxide product of step (a) with at least one of the alkali-metal carbonate and the alkali-metal bicarbonate produced in step (b) to produce a carbonate of the metal formerly contained in the metal silicate of step (a).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicants: UT-BATTELLE, LLC, Virginia Museum of Natural History Foundation, University of Tennessee Research Foundation
    Inventors: James G. Blencoe, Donald A. Palmer, Lawrence M. Anovitz, James S. Beard
  • Patent number: 8152895
    Abstract: A process of producing magnesium metal includes providing magnesium carbonate, and reacting the magnesium carbonate to produce a magnesium-containing compound and carbon dioxide. The magnesium-containing compound is reacted to produce magnesium metal. The carbon dioxide is used as a reactant in a second process. In another embodiment of the process, a magnesium silicate is reacted with a caustic material to produce magnesium hydroxide. The magnesium hydroxide is reacted with a source of carbon dioxide to produce magnesium carbonate. The magnesium carbonate is reacted to produce a magnesium-containing compound and carbon dioxide. The magnesium-containing compound is reacted to produce magnesium metal. The invention also relates to the magnesium metal produced by the processes described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignees: UT-Battelle, LLC, University of Tennessee Research Foundation, Virginia Museum of Natural History Foundation
    Inventors: James G. Blencoe, Lawrence M. Anovitz, Donald A. Palmer, James S. Beard
  • Publication number: 20100233017
    Abstract: A process of producing magnesium metal includes providing magnesium carbonate, and reacting the magnesium carbonate to produce a magnesium-containing compound and carbon dioxide. The magnesium-containing compound is reacted to produce magnesium metal. The carbon dioxide is used as a reactant in a second process. In another embodiment of the process, a magnesium silicate is reacted with a caustic material to produce magnesium hydroxide. The magnesium hydroxide is reacted with a source of carbon dioxide to produce magnesium carbonate. The magnesium carbonate is reacted to produce a magnesium-containing compound and carbon dioxide. The magnesium-containing compound is reacted to produce magnesium metal. The invention also relates to the magnesium metal produced by the processes described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicants: UT-BATTELLE, LLC, UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE RESEARCH FOUNDATION, VIRGINIA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY FOUNDATION
    Inventors: James G. Blencoe, Lawrence M. Anovitz, Donald A. Palmer, James S. Beard
  • Patent number: 7666250
    Abstract: A process of producing magnesium metal includes providing magnesium carbonate, and reacting the magnesium carbonate to produce a magnesium-containing compound and carbon dioxide. The magnesium-containing compound is reacted to produce magnesium metal. The carbon dioxide is used as a reactant in a second process. In another embodiment of the process, a magnesium silicate is reacted with a caustic material to produce magnesium hydroxide. The magnesium hydroxide is reacted with a source of carbon dioxide to produce magnesium carbonate. The magnesium carbonate is reacted to produce a magnesium-containing compound and carbon dioxide. The magnesium-containing compound is reacted to produce magnesium metal. The invention further relates to a process for production of magnesium metal or a magnesium compound where an external source of carbon dioxide is not used in any of the reactions of the process. The invention also relates to the magnesium metal produced by the processes described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignees: UT-Battelle, LLC, University of Tenessee Research Foundation, Virginia Museum of Natural History Foundation
    Inventors: James G. Blencoe, Lawrence M. Anovitz, Donald A. Palmer, James S. Beard