Patents Examined by Syed Iqbal
  • Patent number: 9751759
    Abstract: The invention relates to the use of nonpassivated silicon to produce hydrogen, by hydrolysis of the nonpassivated silicon. In particular, the invention relates to a composition comprising nonpassivated silicon, a process for producing a composition comprising nonpassivated silicon, and a process for producing hydrogen by reacting the composition with water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Oxford University Innovation Limited
    Inventors: John Stuart Foord, Jingping Hu
  • Patent number: 9738536
    Abstract: An allotrope-specific reagent includes a hydride molecule in complex with a specified elemental allotrope. The elemental allotrope included in the complex substantially retains a specified allotropic structure of the bulk element. For example, the reagent can contain a specified allotrope of carbon, such as amorphous carbon, diamond, or graphite. The allotrope-specific reagent can be useful for the synthesis of allotropic nanoparticles. A method for synthesizing the allotrope-specific reagent includes a step of ball-milling a mixture that includes a bulk hydride molecule, such as lithium borohydride powder, and a powder of a specified elemental allotrope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Univeristy of Manitoba
    Inventors: Michael Paul Rowe, Elizabeth Marie Skoropata, Johan Alexander van Lierop
  • Patent number: 9725317
    Abstract: A process and a resulting product by process of an aluminum hydride which is modified with by physically combining in a ball milling process an aluminum hydride with a triammonium salt of aurin tricarboxylic acid. The resulting product is an aluminum hydride which is resistant to air, ambient moisture, and liquid water while maintaining useful hydrogen storage and release kinetics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: SAVANNAH RIVER NUCLEAR SOLUTIONS, LLC
    Inventors: Jose A. Cortes-Concepcion, Donald L. Anton
  • Patent number: 9675961
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a catalyst for the thermochemical generation of hydrogen from water and/or the thermochemical generation of carbon monoxide from carbon dioxide comprising a solid solution of cerium dioxide and uranium dioxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: SAUDI BASIC INDUSTRIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hicham Idriss, Ibraheam Al-Shankiti, Yong Man Choi, Faisal Mohammed Al-Otaibi
  • Patent number: 9675931
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for the removal of mercury from flue gas. Effective removal of mercury is obtained by oxidation of elemental mercury, with highly reactive halogen species derived from dissociation of halogen compounds at moderate temperatures brought into contact with the flue gas with or without the addition of carbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Energy & Environmental Research Center Foundation
    Inventors: Michael J. Holmes, John H. Pavlish, Edwin S. Olson
  • Patent number: 9676635
    Abstract: A method for producing an aqueous zirconium chloride solution includes: grinding zircon sand to an average particle diameter of 10 ?m or less; adding a sodium compound to the ground zircon sand to thereby obtain a mixture; firing the mixture in an iron container at 400° C. or less to thereby obtain a decomposed product; firing the decomposed product in a stainless-steel container at 400 to 1,100° C. to thereby obtain a fired product; dispersing the fired product in water to prepare a dispersion, and washing the fired product with water while adjusting the temperature of the dispersion to 70° C. or less, thereby obtaining a water-washed cake; washing the water-washed cake with hydrochloric acid with a pH of 1 to 6 to thereby obtain zirconium hydrate; and dissolving the zirconium hydrate in hydrochloric acid, and then removing insoluble components to thereby obtain a salt solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: DAIICHI KIGENSO KAGAKU KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Taichi Kunisada, Nobutaka Nochioka
  • Patent number: 9670063
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing hydrogen from ammonia, and in particular a method of producing hydrogen from ammonia by reacting it with a Group I metal, particularly with sodium, for use in a fuel cell and/or in a prime mover. The method may be carried out in-situ in a vehicle. The invention also relates to an apparatus for producing hydrogen from ammonia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: The Science and Technology Facilities Council
    Inventors: William I. F. David, Martin Owen Jones
  • Patent number: 9673465
    Abstract: The present invention provides a catalyst in which a reaction initiation temperature at which self-heating function is exhibited is low and which is capable of suppressing carbon accumulation even when a reaction is repeated. The catalyst of the present invention includes a CeZr-based oxide, silicon, and a catalytically active metal, wherein the CeZr-based oxide satisfies CexZryO2 (x+y=1) and the silicon satisfies molar ratios of 0.02?Si/Zr and 0.01<Si/(Ce+Zr+Si)<0.2. When the catalyst is used, a reduction temperature for generating initial oxygen deficiency can be decreased. Depending on the catalytically active metal, a reduction activation treatment can be performed even at about 20° C. without any need for heating. In a repeated hydrogen generating reaction, the deposition of carbon generated on the surface of the catalyst can be suppressed, and a decrease in catalytic activity can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignees: OITA UNIVERSITY, DOWA HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Nagaoka, Tatsuro Miyazaki, Takuya Yano, Kazumasa Ikari, Toshihiko Ueyama
  • Patent number: 9669371
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods combine reactant materials and aqueous solutions to generate hydrogen. The reactant materials can sodium silicide or sodium silica gel. The hydrogen generation devices are used in fuels cells and other industrial applications. One system combines cooling, pumping, water storage, and other devices to sense and control reactions between reactant materials and aqueous solutions to generate hydrogen. Multiple inlets of varied placement geometries deliver aqueous solution to the reaction. The reactant materials and aqueous solution are churned to control the state of the reaction. The aqueous solution can be recycled and returned to the reaction. One system operates over a range of temperatures and pressures and includes a hydrogen separator, a heat removal mechanism, and state of reaction control devices. The systems, devices, and methods of generating hydrogen provide thermally stable solids, near-instant reaction with the aqueous solutions, and a non-toxic liquid by-product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Intelligent Energy Limited
    Inventors: Andrew P. Wallace, John M. Melack, Michael Lefenfeld
  • Patent number: 9670589
    Abstract: A method of synthesizing alkali uranium fluorophosphate crystals. The method includes combining a uranium-based feedstock with a mineralizer solution. The mineralizer solution includes an alkali nutrient, a phosphate, and a fluoride. The feedstock and mineralizer solution are pressurized and a thermal gradient applied thereto such that a first portion of the feedstock and the mineralizer solution is heated to a temperature that is greater than a temperature of a second portion of the feedstock and the mineralizer solution. Uranium nutrient enters the mineralizer solution from the feedstock in the first portion and uranium nutrient precipitates to spontaneously form crystals in the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: James M Mann, Eric Hunt
  • Patent number: 9663361
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a hydrogen generating composition, reactor, device and hydrogen production method. The composition includes sodium borohydride and a filler. The filler is a substance having a chemical stability and a water solubility of less than 10 g per 100 g of water under an alkaline or neutral condition at a temperature of 130° C. to 140° C. The filler has a bulk volume of 0.02˜16 times the bulk volume of the sodium borohydride. A mass ratio between the filler and the sodium borohydride is less than or equal to 2:1. The filler has a bulk density of less than 16 and has a mean particle size smaller than that of the sodium borohydride. The present invention has a high hydrogen production density, adequate reaction, lower cost and is environmentally friendly, practical and simple to pause and restart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Inventor: Ke Jin
  • Patent number: 9663364
    Abstract: A method is provided for making alkali metal hydrides by mechanochemically reacting alkali metal and hydrogen gas under mild temperature (e.g room temperature) and hydrogen pressure conditions without the need for catalyst, solvent, and intentional heating or cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Vitalij K. Pecharsky, Shalabh Gupta, Marek Pruski, Ihor Hlova, Andra Castle
  • Patent number: 9663360
    Abstract: A process for obtaining a solid form containing heat-stabilized borazane is described. The solid form is capable of generating hydrogen by thermal decomposition or by a self-maintained combustion reaction. Within the solid form containing borazane, the borazane is heat-stabilized. It has thus been heat-stabilized by making an oxidized layer at its surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignees: HERAKLES, CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE (CNRS)
    Inventors: Hélène Blanchard, Joël A. Renouard, Ali Darwiche, Raphaël L. Janot
  • Patent number: 9650247
    Abstract: A method for efficiently producing a high-purity metal hydride without contamination of other metals while initiating reaction rapidly is provided. A method for producing a metal hydride from a metal selected from the group consisting of Group 2 metals and Group 3 metals comprising: (A) charging the pressure resistant container with the metal, introducing hydrogen into the container, and heating the container to initiate reaction, wherein a gauge pressure (a) is set to 0.1 to 1.5 MPa, a heating temperature (b) is set to 50 to 250° C., and a product of the gauge pressure and the heating temperature, a×b, is set in the range of 20 to 100; (B) stopping the introduction of hydrogen to allow the reaction to proceed when the temperature in the reaction container is increased to a temperature higher by 10 to 100° C. than the heating temperature; (C) introducing hydrogen of 0.1 to 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: TAIHEIYO CEMENT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tetsuya Ishimoto, Shoji Suzuki, Katsumi Matsui, Tomoki Hatsumori, Kazuhiko Tokoyoda
  • Patent number: 9650248
    Abstract: Reagent complexes have two or more elements, formally in oxidation state zero, complexed with a hydride molecule. Complexation with the hydride molecule may be evidenced by shifts to lower binding energies, of one or more electrons in each of the two or more elements, as observed by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The reagents can be useful for the synthesis of multi-element nanoparticles. Preparation of the reagents can be achieved by ball-milling a mixture that includes powders of two or more elements and a hydride molecule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., The University of Manitoba
    Inventors: Michael Paul Rowe, Elizabeth Marie Skoropata, Johan Alexander van Lierop
  • Patent number: 9643254
    Abstract: A novel class of reagents, useful for synthesis of elemental nanoparticles, includes at least one element, formally in oxidation state zero in complex with a hydride molecule. The reagents can optionally include an additional ligand incorporated into the complex. Elemental nanoparticles are synthesized by adding solvent to the reagent, optionally with a free ligand and/or a monoatomic cation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael P. Rowe
  • Patent number: 9643896
    Abstract: A method of fertilizing a plant comprises applying to a plant an effective amount of a composition comprising a product of a salicylic acid, a potassium polyphosphite, a potassium phosphite, and a potassium phosphate. The composition may be prepared by reacting salicylic acid, ammonium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide and/or potassium carbonate, phosphoric acid, and phosphorous acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Plant Food Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Carl Fabry
  • Patent number: 9630840
    Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed relate to cooling shale gas via reaction of methane, light hydrocarbons, or a combination thereof, with water. In various embodiments, the present invention provides a method of cooling syngas. The method includes contacting the hot syngas with methane or light hydrocarbons. The hot syngas includes water and has a temperature of about 800° C. to about 3000° C. The contacting is effective to endothermically react the methane or light hydrocarbons with the water in the hot syngas to form carbon monoxide and hydrogen and to provide a cooled syngas having a lower temperature than the hot syngas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Energy & Environmental Research Center Foundation
    Inventors: Joshua J. Stanislowski, Michael J. Holmes, Michael L. Swanson
  • Patent number: 9624102
    Abstract: A pyrotechnic process for providing very high purity hydrogen, includes the combustion of at least one solid pyrotechnic charge capable of generating hydrogen-containing gas for the production of a pressurized hot hydrogen-containing gas that contains at least 70% by volume of hydrogen; and the purification of at least one portion of the pressurized hydrogen-containing gas, by passing through a metallic hydrogen separation membrane maintained at a temperature above 250° C., in order to obtain, at the outlet of the membrane, a hydrogen-containing gas that contains at least 99.99% by volume of hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: HERAKLES
    Inventors: Jean-Philippe Goudon, Pierre Yvart, Fabrice Mantelet, Frédéric Lesage
  • Patent number: 9610569
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process and catalyst system for the production of synthesis gas (a mixture of CO and H2) from greenhouse gases like methane and carbon di oxide. The process provide a single step selective reforming of methane with carbon dioxide to produce synthesis gas over Ce—Ni—MgAl2O4 catalyst prepared by using combination of two methods evaporation induced self-assembly and organic matrix combustion method. These suitably combined methods generate a unique catalyst system with very fine Ni nano clusters evenly dispersed in high surface area support. The process provides both Methane and carbon di oxide conversion more than 90% without any noticeable deactivation till 100 hours between temperature range of 500-800° C. at atmospheric pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: COUNCIL OF SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH
    Inventors: Ankur Bordoloi, Subhasis Das, Reena Goyal, Rajib Kumar Singha, Chandrasheka R. Pendem, Sivakumar Konathala Laxmi Narayan, Rajaram Bal, Vemulapalli Venkata Durga Nagendra Prasad, Neelam Naidu Botcha, Manoj Kumar