Patents Examined by Manbel Medina
  • Method for enrichment of heavy component of oxygen isotopes
    Patent number: 6461583
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for enrichment of heavy oxygen isotopes is provided wherein an oxygen starting material which contains heavy oxygen isotopes is enriched in at least one of oxygen molecule 16O17O, 16O18O, 17O17O, 17O18O and 18O18O, by means of cryogenic distillation of the oxygen starting material containing heavy oxygen isotopes. In addition, a method and apparatus are provided for further increasing the concentration of at least one of the heavy isotope oxygen molecules by means of conducting isotope scrambling on the above-mentioned plurality of oxygen molecules enriched by means of the above mentioned cryogenic distillation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Nippon Sanso Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeru Hayashida, Nobuaki Egoshi, Hitoshi Kihara, Hiroshi Kawakami
  • Reclaiming of purge gas from hydrotreaters and hydrocrackers
    Patent number: 6303089
    Abstract: The invention is a process to recover a high pressure hydrogen-rich gas stream from a purge gas stream taken from a hydrotreater. This purge gas stream is admixed with synthesis gas that was the original source of the hydrogen to form a gaseous mixture. This mixed gas comprising purge gas and synthesis gas is advantageously treated to remove acid gases and possibly other impurities. The mixed gas is then treated to extract a hydrogen-rich gas and a hydrogen-depleted gas using, for example, a membrane. At least a portion of the hydrogen-rich gas is then heated and compressed as necessary and is recycled to the hydrotreater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Paul S. Wallace, Kay Anderson Johnson
  • Methods and apparatus for performing array microcrystallizations
    Patent number: 6296673
    Abstract: A method is provided for performing array microcrystallizations to determine suitable crystallization conditions for a molecule. The method comprises forming an array of microcrystallizations, each microcrystallization comprising a drop containing a molecule to be crystallized, the drop having a volume of less than 1 &mgr;L; storing the array of microcrystallizations under conditions suitable for molecule crystals to form in the drops in the array; and detecting molecule crystal formation in the drops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Bernard D. Santarsiero, Raymond C. Stevens, Peter G. Shultz, Joseph M. Jaklevic, Derek T. Yegian, Earl Cornell, Robert A. Nordmeyer, Jian Jin, William F. Kolbe, Arthur L. Jones, Donald C. Uber
  • Hydrogen purification using metal hydride getter material
    Patent number: 6261528
    Abstract: A metal hydride getter purifier operated at less than 350° C. to remove impurities such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen, oxygen and water to levels of the order of one ppb or less from hydrogen without creating greater than 10 ppb methane. A cryogenic stage after the getter stage may be used to ensure removal of methane from hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: D.D.I. Limited
    Inventors: Giovanni Carrea, Brian D. Warrick