Patents Examined by Stuart Hendrickson
  • Patent number: 9944525
    Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for easily producing a difluorophosphate using only low-cost starting materials without requiring cumbersome operations. According to the present invention, at least one salt selected from the group consisting of halides, carbonates, borates, phosphates, hydroxides and oxides of an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal or an onium, at least one phosphorus compound selected from the group consisting of oxychlorides and chlorides of phosphorus, water and hydrogen fluoride are reacted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: KANTO DENKA KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takuro Abe, Hiroki Takizawa, Teppei Ota
  • Patent number: 9938152
    Abstract: An activated nano-porous carbon is produced using a liquid organic compound as a starting material. A combination of the liquid organic compound with organic acids is mixed with conductive carbon powder and polymerized. The polymerized material is then carbonized and activated using physical or chemical methods. The activated nano-porous carbon obtained using this method has been used to fabricate EDLC devices. The carbon has also shown large surface area (up to ˜2000 m2/gm, depending on the degree of activation) and can be used for various other activated carbon applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Farad Power, Inc.
    Inventor: Shantanu Mitra
  • Patent number: 9919290
    Abstract: A novel carbon absorption material is described which is formed from anaerobic digestate. The material has a hollow tubular structure and is particularly advantageous in converting hydrogen sulfide in biogas and in absorbing the converted sulfur and sulfur compounds from biogas into its structure. The material after use as a hydrogen sulfide absorbent has value as a horticultural or agricultural product or as a sulfur impregnated activated carbon. The process for producing this novel carbon absorption material is described. In an embodiment, the process described uses in particular, a humidified inert gas over a temperature range of between about 500° C. to 900° C. to convert anaerobic digestate to an active carbon absorbent. The thermal treatment is relatively mild and retains the fibrous structure of the source material while removing cellulosic and hemicellulosic components from the anaerobic digestate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: CHAR Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Donald W. Kirk, John W. Graydon, Andrew J. White
  • Patent number: 9919924
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to porous carbon and a method of preparing the same. The porous carbon of the present invention is derived from a carbide compound having a composition comprising metal and oxide. The porous carbon of the present invention comprises both micropores and mesopores, and has large specific surface area, and thus, may be usefully used in various fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignees: Hanwha Chemical Corporation, SNU R&DB Foundation
    Inventors: Shin Hoo Kang, Ji Soon Ihm, Dong Ok Kim
  • Patent number: 9890332
    Abstract: Tools and techniques for biochar production and biochar products are provided in accordance with various embodiments. For example, some embodiments include a method of biochar production that may include introducing a compound that includes at least carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen into a reaction chamber. The compound may be heated to a temperature of at least 1,000 degrees Celsius in the reaction chamber such that the compound reacts through a pyrolysis reaction to produce biochar. The produced biochar may be collected and/or further processed in some cases. In some embodiments, the compound includes at least biomass or a waste product. In some embodiments, the temperature of the reaction chamber is at least 1,100 degrees Celsius. In some embodiments, the compound has a residence time in the reaction chamber between 10 seconds and 1,000 seconds to produce the biochar. Some embodiments include biochar that may include graphite or graphene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: PROTON POWER, INC.
    Inventors: Samuel C. Weaver, Daniel L. Hensley, Jim Bierkamp, Neal Evans, Will Johnson, Bryan Biss, Davis McLemore, John Borden, Carson Bone, Priyanka Bhattacharya
  • Patent number: 9878356
    Abstract: The invention relates to composite adsorbent materials, and in particular, to highly porous carbon-based composite materials for the adsorption and stabilization of inorganic substances. The composite adsorbent material comprises a porous carbon carrier matrix and an adsorbent species, wherein the adsorbent species is precipitated within the pores of the carrier matrix. The invention extends to various uses of such adsorbent materials, for example in water purification, recovery of metals from waste streams and remediation applications, and where the adsorbant material is amended into soil, waste etc. for the purpose of breaking pollutant-receptor linkages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignees: The University of Surrey, The Forestry Commission
    Inventors: Franciscus Antonius Anna Maria De Leij, James Stratford, Helen Sneath, Tony Hutchings
  • Patent number: 9868639
    Abstract: There has been a problem that wrinkles easily occur on a carbonaceous film produced by the use of a continuous production method and on a graphite film obtained by heat-treating the carbonaceous film. In the present invention, heating treatment is carried out on a polymeric film while applying pressure to the polymeric film in the film thickness direction with the use of a continuous carbonization apparatus. This makes it possible to obtain a carbonaceous film and a graphite film in which wrinkling is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: KANEKA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoshi Katayama, Yusuke Ohta, Takashi Inada, Makoto Kutsumizu, Yasushi Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 9862901
    Abstract: Provided are apparatus and methods of gasification using a circulating fluidized bed reactor comprising a separate pyrolysis reaction chamber, one or more primary char gasification chambers, and one or more secondary char gasification chambers which comprise an internal vertical reaction volume suitable for containing a particle bed fluidized by a predominantly vertical upwards gas flow. The vertical reaction volume is advantageous in that this provides the possibility for increased retention time of particles, facilitating comparatively slow “productive” temperature moderation based on endothermic char conversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: PYRONEER A/S
    Inventors: Rasmus Glar Nielsen, Peder Christian Stoholm
  • Patent number: 9828726
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and a system for separating lignin from a lignin containing liquid medium, such as pulp mill black liquor, and treating the separated lignin. The method comprises at least the following steps: a) a precipitation stage (1), wherein a pH lowering agent (A) is added to the lignin containing slurry for precipitating lignin, b) followed by a first separation stage (2), wherein the precipitated lignin is separated as a lignin cake from the remaining liquid phase of the lignin containing slurry, c) a suspending stage (3), wherein the lignin cake is suspended for obtaining a lignin suspension, d) a hydrothermal carbonization stage (4), wherein the lignin suspension is treated for obtaining a slurry of carbon containing material, and e) a second separation stage (5), wherein the carbon containing material is separated from the slurry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: VALMET TECHNOLOGIES OY
    Inventor: Seppo Hiljanen
  • Patent number: 9828249
    Abstract: Methods and systems for producing activated carbon from a particulate coal feedstock that involve one or more of the introduction of a buffering gas, a moisture spray, a finest carbon fraction as a fuel, and certain gas ratios. Different methods and system configurations allow the production of activated carbon or other heat-treated carbons while concurrently avoiding adverse reaction conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Pneumatic Processing Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Michael A. Jones
  • Patent number: 9816207
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are processes for preparing carbon fibers, comprising: sulfonating a polymer fiber with a sulfonating agent that is fuming sulfuric acid, sulfuric acid, chlorosulfonic acid, or a combination thereof; treating the sulfonated polymer with a heated solvent, wherein the temperature of the heated solvent is at least 95° C.; and carbonizing the resulting product by heating it to a temperature of 501-3000° C. Carbon fibers prepared according to these methods are also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Bryan E. Barton, Jasson T. Patton, Eric J. Hukkanen, Mark T. Bernius
  • Patent number: 9809754
    Abstract: Systems and methods for processing pyrolyzable materials in order to recover one or more usable end products are provided. Pyrolysis methods and systems according to various aspects of the present invention are able to thermally decompose carbon-containing materials, including, for example, tires and other rubber-containing materials, in order recover hydrocarbon-containing products including synthesis gas, pyrolysis oil, and carbon black. Systems and methods according to aspects of the present invention may be successful on a commercial scale, and may be suitable for processing a variety of feedstocks, including, but not limited to, used tires and other types of industrial, agricultural, and consumer waste materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Blizzard Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Chuck Schneider
  • Patent number: 9808761
    Abstract: Industrial waste derived adsorbents were obtained by pyrolysis of sewage sludge, metal sludge, waste oil sludge and tobacco waste in some combination. The materials were used as media to remove hydrogen sulfide at room temperature in the presence of moisture. The initial and exhausted adsorbents after the breakthrough tests were characterized using sorption of nitrogen, thermal analysis, XRD, ICP, and surface pH measurements. Mixing tobacco and sludges result in a strong synergy enhancing the catalytic properties of adsorbents. During pyrolysis new mineral phases are formed as a result of solid state reaction between the components of the sludges. High temperature of pyrolysis is beneficial for the adsorbents due to the enhanced activation of carbonaceous phase and chemical stabilization of inorganic phase. Samples obtained at low temperature are sensitive to water, which deactivates their catalytic centers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: RESEARCH FOUNDATION OF THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
    Inventor: Teresa J. Bandosz
  • Patent number: 9796591
    Abstract: A method of reducing a gaseous carbon oxide includes reacting a carbon oxide with a gaseous reducing agent in the presence of a non-ferrous catalyst. The reaction proceeds under conditions adapted to produce solid carbon of various allotropes and morphologies, the selective formation of which can be controlled by means of controlling reaction gas composition and reaction conditions including temperature and pressure. A method for utilizing a non-ferrous catalyst in a reactor includes placing the catalyst in a suitable reactor and flowing reaction gases comprising a carbon oxide with at least one gaseous reducing agent through the reactor where, in the presence of the catalyst, at least a portion of the carbon in the carbon oxide is converted to solid carbon and a tail gas mixture containing water vapor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Seerstone LLC
    Inventor: Dallas B. Noyes
  • Patent number: 9783421
    Abstract: A method of reducing a gaseous carbon oxide includes reacting a carbon oxide with a gaseous reducing agent in the presence of an intermetallic or carbide catalyst. The reaction proceeds under conditions adapted to produce solid carbon of various allotropes and morphologies, the selective formation of which can be controlled by means of controlling reaction gas composition and reaction conditions including temperature and pressure. A method for utilizing an intermetallic or carbide catalyst in a reactor includes placing the catalyst in a suitable reactor and flowing reaction gases comprising a carbon oxide with at least one gaseous reducing agent through the reactor where, in the presence of the catalyst, at least a portion of the carbon in the carbon oxide is converted to solid carbon and a tail gas mixture containing water vapor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Seerstone LLC
    Inventors: Dallas B. Noyes, Terry A. Ring
  • Patent number: 9776165
    Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to materials for use in CO2 capture in high pressure environments. In some embodiments, the materials include a porous carbon material containing a plurality of pores for use in a high pressure environment. Additional embodiments pertain to methods of utilizing the materials of the present disclosure to capture CO2 from various environments. In some embodiments, the materials of the present disclosure selectively capture CO2 over hydrocarbon species in the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: WILLIAM MARSH RICE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: James M. Tour, Desmond E. Schipper, Chih-Chau Hwang, Josiah Tour, Almaz S. Jalilov, Gedeng Ruan, Yilun Li
  • Patent number: 9751764
    Abstract: A method for producing a carbon material including an oxidation step of oxidizing an ashless coal, a forming step of mixing an oxidized ashless coal obtained in the oxidation step and an unoxidized ashless coal and forming a mixture thereof, and a carbonization step of carbonizing a formed body obtained in the formation step. Percentage of increase in oxygen of the oxidized ashless coal obtained in the oxidation step is from 2.0 to 10.0%. A mixing ratio of the oxidized ashless coal in the forming step is from 60 to 95 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of a total of the oxidized ashless coal and the unoxidized ashless coal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd
    Inventors: Maki Hamaguchi, Shohei Wada
  • Patent number: 9748574
    Abstract: A secondary battery includes a cathode, an anode, and an electrolytic solution. The anode has an anode active material layer containing a carbon material and a lithium-containing compound (Li3-aMaN) as an anode active material, where M is one or more transition metal elements. a is a numerical value satisfying 0<a?0.8. The average particle diameter of the lithium-containing compound is 1 ?m or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinya Wakita, Izaya Okae
  • Patent number: 9738523
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of preparing a carbide-derived carbon having high ion mobility for use in a lithium battery anode material, a lithium air battery electrode, a supercapacitor electrode, and a flow capacitor electrode, including thermally treating a carbide compound in a vacuum, thus obtaining a vacuum-treated carbide compound; and thermochemically reacting the vacuum-treated carbide compound with a halogen element-containing gas, thus extracting the element other than carbon from the vacuum-treated carbide compound, wherein annealing can be further performed after thermochemical reaction. This carbide-derived carbon has a small pore distribution, dense graphite fringe, and a large lattice spacing and thus high ion mobility, compared to conventional carbide-derived carbon obtained only by thermochemical reaction with a halogen element-containing gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: KOREA INSTITUTE OF ENERGY RESEARCH
    Inventors: Sun-Hwa Yeon, Kyoung-Hee Shin, Chang-Soo Jin, Kyu-Nam Jung, Sukeun Yoon, Jae-Deok Jeon, Joonmok Shim, Jung-Hoon Yang, Bum-Suk Lee, Myung Seok Jeon, Wook Ahn
  • Patent number: 9731970
    Abstract: A method of thermal energy recovery from production of at least one solid carbon material comprises reacting at least one carbon oxide material and at least one gaseous reducing material at a temperature of greater than or equal to about 400° C., at a pressure greater than or equal to about 1×105 pascal, and in the presence of at least one catalyst material to produce at least one solid carbon material and a gaseous effluent stream comprising water vapor. Thermal energy is extracted from the gaseous effluent stream comprising water vapor. Other methods of generating recoverable thermal energy are disclosed, as is a solid carbon production system having thermal energy recovery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Seerstone LLC
    Inventor: Dallas B. Noyes