Patents by Inventor Choo Y. Hamilton

Choo Y. Hamilton 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).

  • Removal of mercury from coal via a microbial pretreatment process
    Patent number: 7998724
    Abstract: A process for the removal of mercury from coal prior to combustion is disclosed. The process is based on use of microorganisms to oxidize iron, sulfur and other species binding mercury within the coal, followed by volatilization of mercury by the microorganisms. The microorganisms are from a class of iron and/or sulfur oxidizing bacteria. The process involves contacting coal with the bacteria in a batch or continuous manner. The mercury is first solubilized from the coal, followed by microbial reduction to elemental mercury, which is stripped off by sparging gas and captured by a mercury recovery unit, giving mercury-free coal. The mercury can be recovered in pure form from the sorbents via additional processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: UT-Battelle LLC
    Inventors: Abhijeet P. Borole, Choo Y. Hamilton
  • Removal of mercury from coal via a microbial pretreatment process
    Publication number: 20080268525
    Abstract: A process for the removal of mercury from coal prior to combustion is disclosed. The process is based on use of microorganisms to oxidize iron, sulfur and other species binding mercury within the coal, followed by volatilization of mercury by the microorganisms. The microorganisms are from a class of iron and/or sulfur oxidizing bacteria. The process involves contacting coal with the bacteria in a batch or continuous manner. The mercury is first solubilized from the coal, followed by microbial reduction to elemental mercury, which is stripped off by sparging gas and captured by a mercury recovery unit, giving mercury-free coal. The mercury can be recovered in pure form from the sorbents via additional processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventors: Abhijeet P. Borole, Choo Y. Hamilton