Patents Examined by Gary P. Straub
  • Patent number: 6017505
    Abstract: Preparation of inorganic aerogels based on oxides of the metals magnesium, aluminum, silicon, tin, lanthanum, titanium, zirconium, chromium and/or thorium by producing a hydrogel in a sol/gel process, replacing the water in the hydrogel by an organic solvent, and drying the solvent-moist gel, takes place by conducting the drying step by exposing the solvent-moist gel to an ambient temperature which is above the boiling temperature of the solvent and at a pressure which is below the supercritical pressure of the solvent in such a way that the solvent within the gel is heated up very rapidly and evaporates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Bernd Ziegler, Thomas Gerber
  • Patent number: 6015768
    Abstract: A process for the preparation of heterogeneous zirconium based catalyst for polymerization of alpha-olefins to super high molecular weight poly (alpha-olefins). The process comprises in mixing zirconium alcholate or phenolate with anhydrous magnesium chloride in the presence of a solvent. The mixture is heated, then cooled and an organoaluminum compound is added. Optionally, an electron donor compound is added and heated to obtain a black slurry, which is cooled and then washed with a hydrocarbon diluent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Inventors: Sabyasachi Sinha Ray, Deepak Kumar Tuli, Meeta Sharma, Madan Mohan Rai, Sobhan Ghosh, Akhilesh Kumar Bhatnagar, Prabhat Kumar Saxena, Swaminathan Sivaram
  • Patent number: 6015540
    Abstract: An improved method and apparatus is provided for thermally reacting chemicals in a matrix bed of porous inert media. The reaction is conducted in an apparatus that is capable of establishing and maintaining a non-planar reaction wave within the matrix bed. The positioning of the non-planar reaction wave permits the interior surfaces of the vessel to be maintained at a temperature at least above 175.degree. F. The apparatus includes a vessel that contains the matrix bed; one or more feed tubes that extend into the matrix bed, where preferably an exterior portion of each of the feed tubes that passes through the vessel is insulated; an exhaust outlet; and a means for heating the matrix bed. The non-planar reaction wave is established by heating at least a portion of the matrix bed to at least the reaction temperature of the chemicals and feeding a process stream containing the chemicals to be reacted into the feed tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Assignee: Thermatrix, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen R. McAdams, Bradley L. Edgar, Richard J. Martin, Marvin M. Kilgo, Christopher B. Baer, John D. Stilger
  • Patent number: 6011193
    Abstract: A treatment method for containers of hazardous materials, including chemical and conventional weapons, is described. The method is applicable to munitions containing explosives and chemical warfare agents, and to training or test rounds. The containers are subjected to a highly corrosive fluid which dissolves all or part of the container and renders the containers useless as munitions. The highly corrosive fluid may render the hazardous material non-hazardous. The result of the treatment is a liquor which can undergo further treatment for recovery or disposal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Craig A. Myler, Martin E. Toomajian, Monte R. Elmore, Evan O. Jones, Alan H. Zacher
  • Patent number: 6007742
    Abstract: A process and device for electrically assisted partial oxidation of light hydrocarbons by oxygen. The purpose of the process and device is to produce gases rich in CO and H.sub.2 that may also have high contents of C.sub.2 H.sub.4 and C.sub.2 H.sub.2, without any formation of soot or coke by assisting with gliding electric discharge plasma the partial oxidation of hydrocarbons, accompanied by their steam reforming and/or reforming with CO.sub.2,. This mixture of products is achieved in a plasma reactor with gliding electric discharges that glow in the compartment brought to a temperature lower than 1200.degree. C. and at a pressure of less than 6 bars. The discharges act directly in an exothermic reactive medium consisting of hydrocarbons mixed with gaseous oxygen of any origin, and possibly with H.sub.2 O and/or CO.sub.2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Laxarco Holding Limited
    Inventors: Piotr Czernichowski, Albin Czernichowski
  • Patent number: 6004520
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for operating a purification device, to a purification device and to the use of same. To reduce the emission of pollutants, a filter body through which a fluid can flow and comprising a catalyst, is exposed to a stream of gas which is to be purified. Before the gas enters the catalyst, a reducing agent is added in the flow direction of the gas, and after a certain treatment point, during which the gas, which is to be purified, is flowing in the catalyst, reducing agent is added once more to the flowing gas by a feeding mechanism and contact with the catalyst is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Daimler-Benz AG
    Inventors: Martin Hartweg, Rolf-Dirc Roitzheim, Andrea Seibold, Leonhard Walz, Thomas Fetzer, Bernd Morsbach
  • Patent number: 6004526
    Abstract: A process for producing lithium manganate as a cathode active material for lithium secondary batteries comprising firing raw materials at a rate of temperature rise and/or temperature drop of 150.degree. C./min or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Mitsui & Mining Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akiko Sugimoto, Shintaro Ishida, Kenzo Hanawa
  • Patent number: 6004523
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for abating emissions from a manufacturing stream comprising the steps of:(a) from the manufacturing stream, feeding the emissions comprising NO.sub.x to a scrubbing reactor;(b) to the emissions in the scrubbing reactor, adding alkali solution and NO.sub.2 in an amount sufficient so that a substantial amount of the NO.sub.x forms ammonium nitrite or ammonium nitrate while maintaining the pH of the formed ammonium nitrite solution at greater than about 7.5 and vent gas comprising mist exits from the scrubbing reactor;(c) maintaining the temperature of the vent gas at less than about 40.degree. C.; and(d) removing the mist from the vent gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: AlliedSignal Inc.
    Inventors: George Martin Weber, Eric Douglas Patterson, Herbert Kuchong Chen
  • Patent number: 6001326
    Abstract: A method for production of mono-dispersed and crystalline titanium dioxide ultra fine powders comprises preparing an aqueous titanyl chloride solution, diluting the aqueous titanyl chloride solution to a concentration of between about 0.2 to 1.2 mole and heating the diluted aqueous titanyl chloride solution and maintaining the solution in a temperature range of between 15 to 155.degree. C. to precipitate titanium dioxide. The aqueous titanyl chloride solution is prepared by adding ice pieces of distilled water or icing distilled water to undiluted titanium tetrachloride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute
    Inventors: Sun-Jae Kim, Soon Dong Park, Kyeong Ho Kim, Yong Hwan Jeong, Il Hiun Kuk
  • Patent number: 6001322
    Abstract: Precipitated silica particulates suited for homogeneous incorporation, dispersion and distribution within vulcanized elastomeric matrices reinforced therewith can be formed as either a powder, substantially spherical beads, or granulates. The silica particulates have a CTAB specific surface ranging from 100 to 140 m.sup.2 /g, a median diameter .phi..sub.50, after ultrasonic disintegration, less than 2.8 .mu.m, an ultrasonic disintegration factor F.sub.D greater than 3 ml, a BET specific surface ranging from 100 to 200 m.sup.2 /g, a mean particle size greater than 15 .mu.m when formed as a powder, at least 80 .mu.m when formed a s substantially spherical beads, and at least 1 mm when formed as a granulate, a packing density in the tamped state of at least 0.17, and a DOP oil uptake ranging from 150 to 400 ml/100 g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Rhone-Poulenc Chimie
    Inventors: Yvonick Chevallier, Evelyne Prat
  • Patent number: 5997831
    Abstract: Method of catalytically activating the surface of a heat exchange device while retaining the heat exchange properties of the device and heat exchange devices obtained thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Engelhard Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph C. Dettling, Jeffrey B. Hoke
  • Patent number: 5997829
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a sheet-form environment purifying material comprising particles of metal and/or metal oxide consisting essentially of at least one member being selected from the group consisting of manganese, copper, zinc, iron, vanadium, nickel, titanium, palladium, platinum, manganese oxide, copper oxide, zinc oxide, iron oxide, vanadium oxide, nickel oxide, titanium oxide, palladium oxide, and platinum oxide, adsorbent particles consisting essentially of at least one member selected from the group consisting of activated carbon, zeolite, silica gel, sepiolite, activated alumina and activated clay, thermoplastic resin particles being selected from ultrahigh-molecular weight polyethylene, polyethylene, polycarbonate, polyamide acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene resins, polyimide, polyvinyl chloride, cellulose acetate, polysulfone, polystyrene phthalate and polypropylene, and an air-permeable sheet of fibrous.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Hitachi Chemical Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshika Sekine, Kenji Tonoki, Tatsuya Uchida, Yasuo Miyadera, Hiroyuki Kawada, Takayuki Senda
  • Patent number: 5998690
    Abstract: A unique method for solidification of solutions containing boric acid and/or borates is disclosed in this invention. The boron species in the solutions are polymerized to form polyborates, and the solutions are then solidified by mixing with solidification agents which are prepared completely from inorganic materials. Therefore, the solid form produced by this method has no aging problem. The boron species in the solution are not merely wastes to be encapsulated or embedded, they take part in the solidification reaction and share a major portion of total reactants. Thus, the total volume of solid forms produced in this invention is less than 1/10 of that produced in conventional cementation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Institute of Nuclear Energy Research
    Inventors: Ching-Tsven Huang, Wen-Yi Yang
  • Patent number: 5998689
    Abstract: A method for recycling metal parts contaminated by radioactive elements, in particular by .alpha.-emitters, includes forming a melt and a slag from the metal parts and then separating the slag from the melt. The radioactive elements are oxidized prior to the formation of the melt and the slag. For that purpose, the contaminated metal parts are exposed to an oxygen-containing atmosphere for a period at a temperature below the melting temperature of the metal parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ernst Haas, Nikolaus Neudert, Roland Hofmann
  • Patent number: 5997599
    Abstract: Mechanically strong, water-disintegrable agglomerates for use as a soil conditioner produced from dust particles emitted from kilns during the manufacture of cement and a process for forming such agglomerates are disclosed. The process comprises combining cement kiln dust and a water-soluble binder to produce agglomerates which are then subjected to controlled drying such that the dried agglomerates having a size ranging from -7 to +8 Tyler Standard Sieve Series exhibit an average green crush strength of at least about 2 pounds (about 0.9 kg).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Magic Green Corporation
    Inventors: Greg Wommack, Carl Holley, Eugene Greskovich
  • Patent number: 5998691
    Abstract: Chemical warfare agents, including vesicants and nerve agents distributed throughout the world, are destroyed when chemically reacted according to the method and utilizing the apparatus of this invention. The method comprises reacting the chemical warfare agents with nitrogenous base, optionally containing solvated electrons which are conveniently produced by dissolving an active metal like sodium in a nitrogenous base such as anhydrous liquid ammonia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Commodore Applied Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Albert E. Abel, Robert W. Mouk, Alan F. Heyduk, Bentley J. Blum, Gerry D. Getman, Mark D. Steskal
  • Patent number: 5998325
    Abstract: A composition suitable for safely removing hydrogen from gaseous mixtures containing hydrogen and oxygen, particularly those mixtures wherein the hydrogen concentration is within the explosive range. The composition comprises a hydrogenation catalyst, preferably Pd dispersed on carbon, wherein the concentration of Pd is from about 1-10 wt %, dispersed in a polymeric material matrix. As well as serving as a matrix to contain the hydrogenation catalyst, the polymeric material, which is substantially unreactive to hydrogen, provides both a diffusion restriction to hydrogen and oxygen, thereby limiting the rate at which the reactants (hydrogen and oxygen) can diffuse to the catalyst surface and thus, the production of heat from the recombination reaction and as a heat sink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventor: Timothy Jon Shepodd
  • Patent number: 5993765
    Abstract: The process for dry desulfuration of a combustion gas includes providing an electrostatic precipitator (12) or an inertia force separator for dedusting; dedusting the combustion gas at temperatures of 100.degree. C. to 180.degree. C. in the electrostatic precipitator or at temperatures of 100.degree. C. to 700.degree. C. in the inertia force separator to form a partially dedusted combustion gas with a solids content of 5 to 40 g/Nm.sup.3 ; mixing the partially dedusted combustion gas with CaO and/or Ca(OH).sub.2 and optionally CaCO.sub.3 to form a gaseous mixture; providing a circulating fluidized bed device including a fluidized-bed reactor (8) and a downstream solids separator (7) with a return line (17) to the fluidized-bed reactor (8), the solids separator (7) being either another electrostatic precipitator or a bag filter; feeding the gaseous mixture and water into the fluidized-bed reactor (8); cooling the gaseous mixture in the fluidized-bed reactor (8) to a temperature of 50.degree. C. to 90.degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Metallgesellschaft Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hans Beisswenger, Bernhard Thone, Wolfram Klee
  • Patent number: 5993763
    Abstract: A catalyst based on titanium oxide, zirconium oxide or combinations thereof for decomposing HCN in gases, which additionally comprises:molybdenum, vanadium, tungsten, manganese, silicon, selenium, tellurium, niobium, tantalum, sulfur, phosphorus in the form of their oxides, hydrated oxides, other compounds, or combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Huels Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Alfred Kaizik, Dietrich Maschmeyer, Franz Nierlich
  • Patent number: 5993770
    Abstract: An SiC film having an excellent strength and thermal characteristics. The SiC film is prepared by a CVD process (i.e. CVD-SiC fabrication) and has a thermal conductivity along the direction of the SiC crystal growth between 100 and 300 W/m.multidot.K, and an average grain diameter of the internal structure between 4 to 12 .mu.m. It is preferred that the ratio of the thermal conductivity along the direction of the SiC crystal growth to the thermal conductivity in the perpendicular direction is in a range of 1.10 to 1.40.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Tokai Carbon Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiro Kuroyanagi, Tomiya Yasunaka, Yuji Ushijima, Kenichi Kanai