Patents by Inventor Benedict Janssens

Benedict Janssens has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8557174
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the separation and recovery of non-ferrous metals from zinc-bearing residues, in particular from residues produced by the zinc manufacturing industry. The process comprises the steps of:—subjecting the residue to a flash or agitated bath fuming step, thereby producing an Fe bearing slag and Zn- and Pb-bearing fumes; and—extracting the Zn- and Pb-bearing fumes and valorizing Zn and Pb; characterized in that CaO, SiO2 and MgO are added as a flux before or during the fuming step so as to obtain a final slag composition with: formula (I) all concentrations being expressed in wt %. The invention also relates to a single-chamber reactor for Zn-fuming equipped with one or more submerged plasma torches as heat and gas sources. [ Fe ] [ SiO 2 ] + [ CaO ] [ SiO 2 ] + [ Mg ? O ] 3 > 3.5 ; ? ? 0.1 < [ CaO ] [ SiO 2 ] < 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Umicore
    Inventors: Maurits Van Camp, Jonathan Aerts, Benedict Janssens, Sven Santen
  • Publication number: 20110042868
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the separation and recovery of non-ferrous metals from zinc-bearing residues, in particular from residues produced by the zinc manufacturing industry. The process comprises the steps of: subjecting the residue to a flash or agitated bath fuming step, thereby producing an Fe bearing slag and Zn- and Pb-bearing fumes; and extracting the Zn- and Pb-bearing fumes and valorising Zn and Pb; characterised in that CaO, SiO2 and MgO are added as a flux before or during the fuming step so as to obtain a final slag composition with: formula (I) all concentrations being expressed in wt %. The invention also relates to a single-chamber reactor for Zn-fuming equipped with one or more submerged plasma torches as heat and gas sources. [ Fe ] [ SiO 2 ] + [ CaO ] [ SiO 2 ] + [ Mg ? O ] 3 > 3.5 ; ? ? 0.1 < [ CaO ] [ SiO 2 ] < 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: UMICORE
    Inventors: Maurits VAN CAMP, Jonathan AERTS, Benedict JANSSENS, Sven SANTEN
  • Patent number: 7815708
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the separation and recovery of non-ferrous metals from zinc-bearing residues, in particular from residues produced by the zinc manufacturing industry. The process comprises the steps of: —subjecting the residue to a flash or agitated bath fuming step, thereby producing an Fe bearing slag and Zn- and Pb-bearing fumes; and —extracting the Zn- and Pb-bearing fumes and valorising Zn and Pb; characterised in that CaO, SiO2 and MgO are added as a flux before or during the fuming step so as to obtain a final slag composition with: formula (I) all concentrations being expressed in wt %. The invention also relates to a single-chamber reactor for Zn-fuming equipped with one or more submerged plasma torches as heat and gas sources. [ Fe ] [ SiO 2 ] + [ CaO ] [ SiO 2 ] + [ MgO ] 3 > 3.5 ; 0.1 < [ CaO ] [ SiO 2 ] < 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Umicore
    Inventors: Maurits Van Camp, Jonathan Aerts, Benedict Janssens, Sven Santen
  • Patent number: 7597740
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the separation and recovery of non-ferrous metals from zinc-bearing residues, in particular from residues produced by the zinc manufacturing industry. The process allows for the valorisation of metal values in a Zn-, Fe- and Pb-bearing residue, and comprises the steps of: subjecting the residue to a direct reduction step, thereby producing a metallic Fe-bearing phase and Zn- and Pb-bearing first fumes; extracting the Zn- and Pb-bearing first fumes and valorising Zn and Pb; subjecting the metallic Fe-bearing phase to an oxidising smelting step, thereby producing an Fe-bearing slag and second metals-bearing fumes; extracting the second metals-bearing fumes and valorising at least part of their metallic content. The main advantage of this process is that an environmentally acceptable output for Fe is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Umicore
    Inventors: Maurits Van Camp, Jonathan Aerts, Benedict Janssens
  • Publication number: 20070125197
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the separation and recovery of non-ferrous metals from zinc-bearing residues, in particular from residues produced by the zinc manufacturing industry. The process allows for the valorisation of metal values in a Zn-, Fe- and Pb-bearing residue, and comprises the steps of: subjecting the residue to a direct reduction step, thereby producing a metallic Fe-bearing phase and Zn- and Pb-bearing first fumes; extracting the Zn- and Pb-bearing first fumes and valorising Zn and Pb; subjecting the metallic Fe-bearing phase to an oxidising smelting step, thereby producing an Fe-bearing slag and second metals-bearing fumes; extracting the second metals-bearing fumes and valorising at least part of their metallic content. The main advantage of this process is that an environmentally acceptable output for Fe is obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2004
    Publication date: June 7, 2007
    Inventors: Maurits Van Camp, Jonathan Aerts, Benedict Janssens
  • Publication number: 20070095169
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the separation and recovery of non-ferrous metals from zinc-bearing residues, in particular from residues produced by the zinc manufacturing industry. The process comprises the steps of: -subjecting the residue to a flash or agitated bath fuming step, thereby producing an Fe bearing slag and Zn- and Pb-bearing fumes; and -extracting the Zn- and Pb-bearing fumes and valorising Zn and Pb; characterised in that CaO, SiO2 and MgO are added as a flux before or during the fuming step so as to obtain a final slag composition with: formula (I) all concentrations being expressed in wt %. The invention also relates to a single-chamber reactor for Zn-fuming equipped with one or more submerged plasma torches as heat and gas sources. [ Fe ] [ SiO 2 ] + [ CaO ] [ SiO 2 ] + [ MgO ] 3 > 3.5 ; 0.1 < [ CaO ] [ SiO 2 ] < 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2004
    Publication date: May 3, 2007
    Inventors: Maurits Van Camp, Jonathan Aerts, Benedict Janssens, Sven Santen