Patents by Inventor Bernard Vandenhende

Bernard Vandenhende 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: 8338563
    Abstract: Method for purifying a solution of at least one plastic in a solvent, the said solution comprising insolubles, whereby the solution is purified using a centrifugal settler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Solvay (Societe Anonyme)
    Inventor: Bernard Vandenhende
  • Patent number: 7893195
    Abstract: Method for recovering a polymer from a liquid medium (1) substantially containing the polymer and a solvent for the latter, wherein: (a) this liquid medium (1) is injected into a reactor (2) containing a stirred substantially monophase liquid mixture comprising a major fraction by weight of a non-solvent and a minor fraction by weight of a solvent, the mixture having a composition and temperature such that the polymer precipitates therefrom progressively; (b) the polymer is recovered in the form of particles in suspension (5) in a liquid rich in non-solvent; (c) the polymer particles (9) are separated from the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: SOLVAY (Societe Anonyme)
    Inventors: Eric Fassiau, Bernard Vandenhende, Jean-Raphael Caille, Jean-Christophe Lepers
  • Publication number: 20100179292
    Abstract: Method for recovering a polymer from a liquid medium (1) substantially containing the polymer and a solvent for the latter, wherein: (a) this liquid medium (1) is injected into a reactor (2) containing a stirred substantially monophase liquid mixture comprising a major fraction by weight of a non-solvent and a minor fraction by weight of a solvent, the mixture having a composition and temperature such that the polymer precipitates therefrom progressively; (b) the polymer is recovered in the form of particles in suspension (5) in a liquid rich in non-solvent; (c) the polymer particles (9) are separated from the liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2006
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: SOLVAY SA
    Inventors: Eric Fassiau, Bernard Vandenhende, Jean-Raphael Caille, Jean-Christophe Lepers
  • Patent number: 7569658
    Abstract: Process for the solvent treatment of a plastic, by dissolving the plastic with a solvent and with at least one phase separation agent compatible with the solvent to form a solution, precipitating the plastic by contacting the solution with at least one non-solvent so as to obtain a solvent/non solvent mixture containing precipitated plastic particles, and substantially eliminating the solvent from the mixture and recovering solid plastic particles. After dissolution but before substantially eliminating the solvent a stripping takes place during which at least a substantial portion of the PSA is removed from the solution or from the mixture using a stripping composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Solvay (Societe Anonyme)
    Inventors: Bernard Vandenhende, Eric Fassiau
  • Publication number: 20090124715
    Abstract: Method for purifying a solution of at least one plastic in a solvent, the said solution comprising insolubles, whereby the solution is purified using a centrifugal settler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: Solvay (Societe Anonyme
    Inventor: Bernard Vandenhende
  • Publication number: 20080047671
    Abstract: Process for the recovery of a polymer in solution Process for the recovery of a polymer in solution in a solvent, the combined material forming a homogeneous medium, according to which: a) a nonsolvent is added to the homogeneous medium so as to render it heterogeneous; b) the heterogeneous medium is subjected to shearing and to a supply of thermal energy sufficient to evaporate the solvent and nonsolvent and to provide polymer particles; c) the polymer particles are recovered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2005
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Applicant: Solvay (Societe Anonyme)
    Inventor: Bernard Vandenhende
  • Publication number: 20070255040
    Abstract: Process for the solvent treatment of a plastic, comprising: (a) dissolving the plastic by contacting it with a solvent and with at least one phase separation agent (PSA) compatible with the solvent and capable of improving the dissolution of the plastic by the solvent; (b) precipitating the plastic by contacting the solution with at least one nonsolvent so as to obtain a solvent/non solvent mixture containing precipitated plastic particles; and (c) substantially eliminating the solvent from the mixture and recovering solid plastic particles, wherein after step (a) but before step (c), a stripping step (d) takes place during which at least a substantial portion of the PSA is removed from the solution or from the mixture, said stripping step (d) using a stripping composition which includes solvent in an amount sufficient to replace the evaporated one and to keep the polymer concentration in the solution or in the mixture practically unaffected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2005
    Publication date: November 1, 2007
    Applicant: SOLVAY (SOCIETE ANONYME)
    Inventors: Bernard Vandenhende, Eric Fassiau
  • Patent number: 7135546
    Abstract: Process for recycling an article based on at least one vinyl chloride or vinylidene chloride polymer, according to which: (a) the article is cut up into fragments with a mean size of 1 cm to 50 cm in the case where it would exceed these sizes; (b) the article fragments are brought into contact with an azeotropic or quasiazeotropic mixture of water and of a solvent capable of dissolving the polymer, at a temperature of at least 120° C.; (c) the polymer dissolved in the solvent is precipitated by a reduction in pressure and by injection of steam into the solution thus obtained, which additionally results in the entrainment of the solvent-water azeotrope and thus leaves a mixture remaining which is essentially composed of water and of solid polymer particles; (d) the polymer particles are collected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Solvay (Societe Anonyme)
    Inventors: Bernard Vandenhende, Jean-Marie Yernaux
  • Patent number: 7056956
    Abstract: Process for recycling a plastic, according to which the plastic is brought into contact with a solvent capable of dissolving the same and the plastic dissolved in the solvent is precipitated using a non-solvent in the presence of a phase-separating agent, in which the phase-separating agent is compatible with the solvent and incompatible with the non-solvent, and is also present when the plastic is brought into contact with the solvent, and improves the dissolution of the plastic by the solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: SOLVAY (Societe Anonyme)
    Inventors: Bernard Vandenhende, Jean-Philippe Dumont
  • Publication number: 20050010027
    Abstract: Process for recovering a polymer in solution in a solvent, the whole forming a homogeneous medium, according to which: (a) a non-solvent is added to the homogeneous medium so as to make it heterogeneous, (b) the heterogeneous medium is converted into droplets by atomization, (c) the droplets are placed in contact with a gas that vaporizes the solvent, (d) the polymer is recovered in the form of particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2002
    Publication date: January 13, 2005
    Inventors: Bernard Vandenhende, Francois Van Loock
  • Publication number: 20030119925
    Abstract: Process for recycling a plastic, according to which the plastic is brought into contact with a solvent capable of dissolving the same and the plastic dissolved in the solvent is precipitated using a non-solvent in the presence of a phase-separating agent, in which the phase-separating agent is compatible with the solvent and incompatible with the non-solvent, and is also present when the plastic is brought into contact with the solvent, and improves the dissolution of the plastic by the solvent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Inventors: Bernard Vandenhende, Jean-Philippe Dumont
  • Patent number: 6172125
    Abstract: Process for recycling an article based on at least one vinyl chloride polymer, in which: (a) the article is shredded into fragments having an average dimension of 1 cm to 50 cm, should it exceed these dimensions; (b) the fragments of the article, which are substantially dry, are brought into contact with a substantially anhydrous solvent capable of dissolving the vinyl chloride polymer, forming an azeotrope with water; (c) the polymer dissolved in the solvent is precipitated by injecting steam in the solution thus obtained, which moreover leads to the stripping of the water-solvent azeotrope and so leaves behind a mixture essentially consisting of water and of solid polymer particles; (d) the polymer particles are recovered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Solvay S.A. (Societe Anonyme)
    Inventors: Bernard Vandenhende, Jean-Marie Yernaux, Jacques Scheffer
  • Patent number: 6127435
    Abstract: Process for the treatment of ground polyolefin material originating from scrap dairy product containers with at least one agent chosen from hydrogen peroxide, steam and sodium hydroxide in a quantity which is effective for deodorizing the polyolefin. Ground material obtained by this process and exhibiting an imperceptible level of residual odour of aged milk. Use of the deodorized ground material obtained by this process for the production of shaped objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Solvay Polyolefins Eurpoe--Belgium (Societe Anonyme)
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques Robin, Valerie Bromont, Etienne Hannecart, Jean-Marie Yernaux, Bernard Vandenhende, Frank Devlieghere
  • Patent number: 5934577
    Abstract: Process for separating the constituents of a multilayer material including at least one layer of a base plastic (A) and a layer of a plastic (B) which are separated by a layer of adhesive plastic (C), in which: (1) the material is heated to a temperature T1 between the crystallization temperature of the plastic B (Tc) and Tc--20.degree. C., (2) the material is next shredded by being subjected to shearing, at approximately the same temperature, so as to produce delamination and thus to convert the material into particles of small dimensions of two types, some (X) consisting essentially of base plastic (A) and others (Y) consisting essentially of plastic B and of adhesive plastic (C), and (3) the particles X and Y are subsequently separated by electrostatic separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Solvay (Societe Anonyme)
    Inventors: Bernard Vandenhende, Jean-Marie Yernaux