Patents Examined by Jeffrey W. Peterson
  • Patent number: 4689154
    Abstract: An improved process is described for removing phosphorus from industrial waste water by contacting the waste water with ozone to convert reduced or organic phosphates into ortho-phosphates, and precipitating the soluble ortho-phosphates by treatment with lime. The precipitated material can be filtered, and the filtrate treated with activated carbon to produce an effluent stream having low levels of phosphorus.The process of this invention is particularly effective at low treatment temperatures, enabling efficient treatment of the waste water during periods of cold weather.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1987
    Assignee: Occidental Chemical Corporation
    Inventor: Walter M. Zimberg
  • Patent number: 4687583
    Abstract: In a procedure for filtering lime sludge meant to be regenerated to lime. Lime sludge is produced in the causticizing process in a sulphate cellulose mill, where it can be reused after regeneration to lime. In the procedure, lime sludge suspension is filtered on a filter drum in continuous rotation by depositing lime sludge on the drum and detaching part of the superficial layer of the lime sludge on the drum with a scraper so that the deeper lime sludge layer on the drum, which by-passes the scraper, serves as filtering medium for the superficial layer that is detached (as a so-called pre-coat).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1987
    Assignee: Enso-Gutzeit Oy
    Inventors: Matti Lankinen, Holger Engdahl, Raimo Kohonen, Jukka Niskanen, Markku Kosonen
  • Patent number: 4686039
    Abstract: Fluid separation modules are disclosed having tube sheets positioned in the end portions of the cylindrical shell forming the exterior of the separation module wherein the end portions of the cylindrical shell have been modified in order to provide improved adhesion and fluid seal between the tube sheets and the shell walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1987
    Assignee: Monsanto Company
    Inventors: Roger S. Otstot, Duane E. King
  • Patent number: 4684472
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, the chromium content of an aqueous waste containing significant amounts of at least one soluble chromium compound, such as blowdown waters from cooling towers utilizing chromium-containing materials as corrosion inhibitors is reduced, by contacting the chromium-containing waste water with an aqueous waste containing sodium sulfides, particularly spent caustic utilized in a desulfurization of petroleum fractions, to precipitate a substantial amount of the chromium and, thereafter, separating the precipitated chromium from the mixture as a sludge, to produce a waste water which can be safely disposed of to the earth's surface in a sewer or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1987
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventors: Bruce W. Abbe, Jack M. Cole
  • Patent number: 4680126
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for the elimination of hazardous metal wastewater and sludges by recovering the non-ferrous metals zinc, nickel, copper (II), cadmium or chromium (III) present in an aqueous sludge comprising mixed metal hydroxides by selectively precipitating the ferrous metal ions present while maintaining the non-ferrous metal ions in solution, isolating the precipitate and then precipitating the non-ferrous metal ions from solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1987
    Inventors: James M. Frankard, Orville V. Broch
  • Patent number: 4676959
    Abstract: A process for producing aluminum hydroxide product having an improved level of whiteness is disclosed. In the process, a caustic solution having dissolved aluminum hydroxide is subjected to purification to remove color producing humate material. Purification includes passing the caustic solution through a semi-permeable membrane. The solution purified of humate material is treated to precipitate aluminum hydroxide therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1987
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventors: Paul J. The, Chanakya Misra
  • Patent number: 4668401
    Abstract: The present invention provides a hollow-fiber filter module comprising a straight tube, a bundle of hollow fibers having at least a part thereof disposed within the straight tube, a fastening member for bundling and fixing the open ends of the hollow fibers, and at least a branch tube having an end protruding to the outside of the straight tube, that surface of the fastening member which includes the open ends of the hollow fibers being attached to the branch tube in a fluid-tight manner, as well as a filtration method in which a plurality of such hollow-fiber filter modules are connected in series to form a filter module assembly and a fluid to be treated is filtered by utilizing one end of the connected straight tubes of the assembly as an inlet for the fluid to be treated, the other end thereof as an outlet for the fluid to be treated, and the branch tube of each module as an outlet for the filtered fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1987
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Rayon Engineering Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Munehiro Okumura, Kazuo Kuwahara, Masujiro Arita, Shingo Mori, Tetsuya Ohmura, Osamu Yamamoto, Shinichi Ishii
  • Patent number: 4661261
    Abstract: A method of stabilizing alumina precipitates in industrial waters has been discovered. The method involves the addition to industrial water of effective amounts of low molecular weight multi-functional carboxylic acids, particularly citric acid and its water soluble salts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1987
    Assignee: Nalco Chemical Company
    Inventor: Bruce C. Chambers
  • Patent number: 4661256
    Abstract: A process for the removal of trace quantities of hydrocarbonaceous compounds from an aqueous stream which comprise the steps of: (a) contacting the aqueous stream with an adsorbent to remove trace quantities of hydrocarbonaceous compounds from the aqueous stream to provide an aqueous stream having a reduced concentration of hydrocarbonaceous compounds; (b) contacting spent adsorbent which has accumulated the hydrocarbonaceous compounds from the aqueous stream with an elution solvent to remove the hydrocarbonaceous compounds from the spent adsorbent thereby regenerating the adsorbent; (c) contacting the elution solvent in admixture with the hydrocarbonaceous compounds which were removed from the spent adsorbent in step (b) in the presence of hydrogen with a hydrogenation catalyst in a hydrotreating reaction zone; (d) contacting the hydrotreating reaction zone effluent with an aqueous scrubbing solution; and (e) introducing a resulting admixture of the reaction zone effluent and the aqueous scrubbing solution i
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1987
    Assignee: UOP Inc.
    Inventor: Russell W. Johnson
  • Patent number: 4654148
    Abstract: A process for removal of iron cyanide complex or complexes from a solution is described, the process being characterized by contact of the solution containing the complex or complexes with ammonium polysulfide or sodium polysulfide, or a mixture thereof, at a temperature of from about 110.degree. C. to about 180.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1987
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventor: Daniel C. Baker
  • Patent number: 4650851
    Abstract: A process for the purification of glycolide which comprises dissolving the glycolide to be purified in a suitable organic solvent, adding alumina to the resulting solution to form a slurry wherein the alumina is in intimate contact with the dissolved glycolide, stirring the slurry under controlled conditions for a period of 1 to 60 minutes, and filtering to remove the alumina and, if desired, evaporating to remove the solvent and recovering the purified glycolide; and the production of suture-grade polyglycolic acid by the polymerization of the resulting purified glycolide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1987
    Assignee: Pfizer Hospital Products Group, Inc.
    Inventors: David Rhum, Richard S. Matthews
  • Patent number: 4636376
    Abstract: A process for the removal of essentially chromium-free sulfate from a chromate and sulfate-containing chlorate liquor which includes mixing the chlorate liquor having a pH of between about 2.0 and 6.0 with a calcium-containing material at a temperature and for a time sufficient to form a sulfate-containing precipitate predominantly of glauberite, Na.sub.2 Ca(SO.sub.4).sub.2, and separating the substantially chromium-free glauberite from the chlorate liquor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1987
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Bernard A. Maloney, John E. Carbaugh