Patents Examined by Gary P. Straub
  • Patent number: 5980782
    Abstract: A novel fluidized bed syngas (FBSG) injector/reactor apparatus and an efficient process for the partial oxidation and steam reforming of light hydrocarbon gases such as methane, to convert such gases to useful synthesis gas containing CO and H.sub.2 for recovery and/or subsequent hydrocarbon synthesis. Sources of a light hydrocarbon gas, such as methane, and oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas are preheated and pressurized and injected through gas orifices of an injector at high velocity and comparable momentums into admixture with each other in the desired proportions, at a plurality of mixing chambers or recessed cups which are open to the fluidized bed reaction zone of a reaction chamber and are spaced over the face of the injector, to form a reactant gas premix having a pressure drop of at least 1% through the injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Co.
    Inventors: Frank Hershkowitz, Harry W. Deckman, Robert P. Reynolds, Constantine P. Gonatas, John W. Fulton, Leonard Schoenman, Jack I. Ito, Russell J. Koveal, Lavanga R. Veluswamy, James H. Taylor, Alfredo M. Lopez
  • Patent number: 5980843
    Abstract: A catalyzer is provided for promoting chemical reactions, such as the reaction between ammonia and air to produce nitrogen monoxide which, in turn, can be used to manufacture nitric acid or the purification of flue gas from incineration plants. The catalyzer is made by forming a mixture of a combustible pore forming substance, such as a polymer, vegetable material or graphite, and a ceramic material, such as alumina, zirconia, titanium dioxide, silica, tungsten carbides, silicon nitrides and mixtures thereof, and thermally spraying this mixture onto a support net to result in a net having porous ceramic deposited thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Katator AB
    Inventor: Fredrik Ahlstrom Silversand
  • Patent number: 5976476
    Abstract: The invention provides a catalytic composition which is based on a cerium oxide and on at least one other oxide chosen from iron, manganese and praseodymium oxides, which controls H.sub.2 S emissions in the catalysis of treatment of automobile exhaust gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Rhodia Chimie
    Inventors: Gilbert Blanchard, Eric Quemere, Olivier Touret, Valerie Visciglio
  • Patent number: 5976485
    Abstract: Sulfur dioxide is introduced into a solution of sodium sulfite and sodium bisulfite to form sodium bisulfite in a solution having dissolved sulfur dioxide present with a pH between 3.5 and 4.2. The solution is drawn to a cooling crystallizer where an alkali such as soda ash, caustic soda, sodium sulfite, and mixtures thereof is added to produce additional sodium metabisulfite that increases the yield of sodium metabisulfite crystallizing per pass. The mother liquor is recycled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Solvay Minerals, Inc.
    Inventors: Vladimir M. Zolotoochin, Jim P. Metziner, David M. Hansen
  • Patent number: 5972301
    Abstract: Formation of hexavalent chromium is reduced during incineration/combustion of materials containing hexavalent chromium by adding to the waste prior to or during combustion a small amount of sulfur. The sulfur can be added as elemental sulfur, as sulfur dioxide, or as high sulfur fuels or high sulfur waste.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Environmental Protection Agency
    Inventors: William P. Linak, Jost O. L. Wendt
  • Patent number: 5972226
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process of aqueous phase oxidation of effluents, consisting of subjecting said effluents to oxidation in the presence of at least one catalyst and of at least one oxidising agent, at a temperature of between approximately 20.degree. C. and approximately 350.degree. C., under a total pressure of between approximately 1 and approximately 160 bars, in such manner as to mineralise part of the organic matter and total ammoniated nitrogen contained in said effluents, said oxidation being carried out inside a reactor in which a gaseous phase is set up above the liquid phase consisting of said effluents.characterized in that said catalyst is a heterogeneous catalyst placed inside said reactor above the interface between said gaseous phase and said liquid phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Omnium de Traitements et de Valorisation
    Inventors: Malik Djafer, Francis Luck, Jacques Sibony
  • Patent number: 5972302
    Abstract: Pyritic ores are heated with microwave energy in a fluidized bed to a temperature in the range of approximately 573 degrees Kelvin to 823 degrees Kelvin with a controlled amount of oxygen to promote the oxidation of the pyritic ores according to the reaction: 2FeS.sub.2 +3/2 O.sub.2 .fwdarw.Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 +4S, thereby preventing the production of sulphur dioxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: EMR Microwave Technology Corporation
    Inventors: James M. Tranquilla, Paul R. Kruesi
  • Patent number: 5972835
    Abstract: The invention provides fluidizable, substantially spherical particulate material of improved attrition resistance having an average particle size from about 100 to about 400 microns useful as sorbents, catalysts, catalytic supports, specialty ceramics or the like. The particles are prepared by spray drying a slurry comprising inorganic starting materials and an organic binder. Exemplary inorganic starting materials include mixtures of zinc oxide with titanium dioxide, or with iron oxide, alumina or the like. Exemplary organic binders include polyvinyl alcohol, hydroxypropylemethyl cellulose, polyvinyl acetate and the like. The spray dried particles are heat treated at a first temperature wherein organic binder material is removed to thereby provide a porous structure to the particles, and thereafter the particles are calcined at a higher temperature to cause reaction of the inorganic starting materials and to thereby form the final inorganic particulate material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Research Triangle Institute
    Inventor: Raghubir P. Gupta
  • Patent number: 5969208
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method of making a pollutant harmless by treating a material to be treated containing the pollutant. The method comprises the steps of: heating the material in a pressure resistant vessel hermetically to obtain a heated material; supplying the heated material from the vessel to a nozzle; and jetting out the material from the nozzle to collide against a collecting member arranged opposite to the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignees: Hiromichi Tamaki, Hisao Tsuruta, Ryohei Mihara
    Inventor: Ryohei Mihara
  • Patent number: 5970420
    Abstract: A process is provided for decontaminating metal objects, such as warhead components having hazardous materials adherent thereto. In the process, the objects are contacted with steam at a temperature above about 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit for a period of at least about 15 minutes under sub-atmospheric conditions. Thereafter, the steam used in the process is condensed to form a condensate and the condensate is used as a makeup component for an aqueous pacifying solution for pacification hazardous materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Parsons Infrastructure & Technology Group, Inc.
    Inventor: John A. Scott
  • Patent number: 5968870
    Abstract: A catalyst being formed of a porous supporter supporting alkali metals, Ti and a noble metal, or further supporting at least one of rare earth metal and magnesium, being disposed in a flow passage of an internal combustion engine, and being used to purify NOx contained in the exhaust gas. The above catalyst has NOx resistance to exhaust gas burnt with a rich condition and with a lean condition and a high resistivity to poisoning by SOx.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidehiro Iizuka, Ryouta Doi, Hiroshi Hanaoka, Toshio Ogawa, Osamu Kuroda, Hisao Yamashita, Shigeru Azuhata, Yuichi Kitahara, Norihiro Shinotsuka
  • Patent number: 5966584
    Abstract: Trivalent actinides can be separated from trivalent lanthanides in aqueous solutions at H.sup.+ concentrations of 2 mol/l to 0.001 mol/liter by extraction with bis(aryl)dithiophosphinic acid and a synergist such as TBP, TOPO and TBPO in an organic solvent. A high separation efficiency results. The method is applicable to high-level liquid waste from reactors and nuclear-material processing plants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Forschungszentrum Julich GmbH
    Inventors: Giuseppe Modolo, Reinhard Odoj
  • Patent number: 5965095
    Abstract: A process is provided for removing vapor phase selenium species produced by the combustion of selenium and sulfur-containing fuel of the kind used to generate electric power in conjunction with a flue gas desulfurization process. In one process embodiment the flue gas leaving the combustion system is humidified by the injection of atomized water or a dilute alkaline slurry at a selected location upstream of the flue gas desulfurization system to cool the flue gas from a temperature of about 300.degree. F. to a temperature of about 280.degree. F. so as to enhance the selenium removal efficiency. In another process embodiment the flue gas leaving the combustion system is first humidified to cool the flue gas from a temperature of about 300.degree. F. to a temperature of about 200.degree. F. so as to enhance the selenium removal efficiency, and then an alkaline sorbent material is injected into the humidified flue gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Electric Power Research Inst.
    Inventors: David R. Owens, Oliver W. Hargrove, Jr., Joseph R. Peterson, David M. Seeger, Ron C. Skarupa, Miriam Stohs
  • Patent number: 5964901
    Abstract: There is disclosed a method for detecting clogging of air feed pipes, comprising air feed pipes (15), each having an outlet (13) for jetting air into a granulation section (1), and jetting nozzles (13), each situated at the center of the air outlet of a said air feed pipe for jetting a liquid of a molten raw material (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Toyo Engineering Corporation
    Inventors: Kimikazu Kido, Tetsuzo Honda
  • Patent number: 5964693
    Abstract: A process is provided for the preparation of aqueous silica sols having a particle size of 27 to 72 nm. by adding fresh acidic silica sol into the reactors of a multi stage cascade reactor wherein the reactors contain aqueous solution of colloidal silica sol of a pH of 8 or above. Each successive stage of the cascade reactor is supplied with overflow from the preceding stage. Alkaline compounds, such as alkaline sodium silicate solution, alkaline potassium silicate solution, sodium hydroxide solution or potassium hydroxide solution, are introduced into the first reactor or first reactors so that a pH value in the range of 8 to 12.5 is established in the reactors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Bayer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Uwe Brekau, Hans-Dieter Block, Hans-Heinrich Moretto, Peter Schmidt, Peter Schober, Werner Ludovici
  • Patent number: 5964917
    Abstract: The invention relates to free-flowing, powder fertilizer compositions characterized by having enhanced aqueous dissolution rates and being able to produce drift reduced aqueous agricultural spray medium.Specifically, the compositions are water-soluble, nitrogen-containing fertilizers physically blended with a guar gum drift reduction agent and a silicone defoaming agent either encapsulated or absorbed in an agricultural carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Inventor: John Alvis Latting
  • Patent number: 5965098
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for cleaning flowing gases. To reduce the total emissions, nitrogen oxides, especially NO and NOx, are extracted at least partially from the gas to be scrubbed, in the temperature range from 50 and 300.degree. C., preferably between 50 and 150.degree. C. To extract the nitrogen oxides, an intermediate storage medium is used that is composed of a storage material and a supporting material for the storage material. The intermediate storage medium having in particular a composition of the formal chemical formula Ag.CuAl.sub.2 O.sub.4 in an Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 matrix, with the composition being a spinel or being of the spinel type, and with the composition having characteristic spinel lines in the x-ray spectrum, where 0.ltoreq.x<1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Walter Boegner, Rolf-Dirc Roitzheim, Martin Hartweg, Andrea Seibold, Thomas Fetzer, Bernd Morsbach
  • Patent number: 5965096
    Abstract: A process of aqueous phase oxidation of effluents, consisting of subjecting the effluents to oxidation in the presence of at least one oxidizing agent inside a reactor having a gaseous phase set up above a liquid phase consisting of the effluents, and subjecting the gaseous phase to catalysis in the presence of at least one heterogeneous catalyst. The oxidation process is carried out at a temperature of between approximately 20.degree. C. and approximately 350.degree. C. under a pressure of between approximately 1 and 160 bars. At least a part of the organic matter and total ammoniated nitrogen contained in the effluents are mineralized. The process includes recycling at least a part of the gaseous phase present in the oxidation reactor after the gaseous phase has passed through the heterogeneous catalyst so as to effectively increase the contact time between the gaseous phase and the heterogeneous catalyst in order to obtain substantial removal of NH.sub.3, COR, and volatile organic compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Omnium deTraitements et deValorisation
    Inventors: Malik Djafer, Francis Luck, Jacques Sibony
  • Patent number: 5965474
    Abstract: A composition for passivating metal contaminants in catalytic cracking of hydrocarbons includes a non-layered, ultra-large pore crystalline material with at least one peak at a position greater than about 18 Angstrom Units d-spacing with a relative intensity of 100, and a benzene adsorption capacity of greater than about 15 grams benzene per 100 grams anhydrous crystal at 50 torr and 25.degree. C., and a metal passivator incorporated within the crystalline material. A method for passivating contaminating metals uses the composition during catalytic cracking as an additive or as a component of the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey William Balko, Arthur W. Chester, Augusto Rodolfo Quinones
  • Patent number: 5961949
    Abstract: A novel method of preparing a highly homogenous spinel Li.sub.1+X Mn.sub.2-X O.sub.4+Y intercalation compound having a predetermined mean particle size and particle size distribution for 4 V secondary lithium and lithium ion cells is provided. The method comprises mixing at least one manganese compound having a predetermined particle size distribution with at least one lithium compound wherein the manganese compound has a mean particle size of between about 1 and 15 microns and the mean particle size of the lithium compound is less than that of the manganese compound. The mixture is then fired in one or more firing steps within specific temperature ranges to form the Li.sub.1+X Mn.sub.2-X O.sub.4+Y intercalation compound. Preferably, at least one firing step is at a temperature of between about 700.degree. C. and 900.degree. C. The Li.sub.1+X Mn.sub.2-X O.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventors: Vesselin Manev, Walter Ebner, William Thompson, Stephen Dow