Patents by Inventor David R. Hulme

David R. Hulme 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: 6207039
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a process for recovering one of an onium hydroxide and onium salt from a solution containing an onium compound involving the steps of charging the solution containing the onium compound to an electrochemical cell comprising at least two compartments, a cathode, an anode, and a divider, wherein at least one compartment comprises an ion exchange material; passing a current through the electrochemical cell whereby the onium hydroxide or the onium salt is produced; and recovering the onium hydroxide or the onium salt from the electrochemical cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Sachem, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger D. Moulton, David R. Hulme
  • Patent number: 5968338
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a process for recovering an onium hydroxide from a solution containing an onium compound, including contacting the solution with a cation exchange material so that at least a portion of onium cations from the onium compound are adsorbed by the cation exchange material; contacting an acid with the cation exchange material to elute an onium salt; charging the onium salt to an electrochemical cell containing at least three compartments, a cathode, an anode, and in order from the anode to the cathode, a bipolar membrane and a cation selective membrane, and passing a current through the cell whereby the onium hydroxide is regenerated; and recovering the onium hydroxide from the cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Sachem, Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Hulme, Roger Moulton, Wilfred W. Wilson, Mark Hellums
  • Patent number: 5853555
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for preparing onium hydroxide from a corresponding onium salt and for purifying onium hydroxide including providing an electrochemical cell containing a cathode, an anode, a divider and a bipolar membrane, the bipolar membrane having an anion selective side facing the anode and a cation selective side facing the cathode, wherein the divider is positioned between the cathode and the bipolar membrane, and the bipolar membrane is positioned between the divider and the anode, thereby defining a feed compartment between the divider and the bipolar membrane, a recovery compartment between the divider and the cathode, and a water compartment between the bipolar membrane and the anode; charging a solution containing at least one of the onium salt and the onium hydroxide to be purified to the feed compartment; charging a liquid electrolyte to the other compartments; passing a current through the electrochemical cell to produce the onium hydroxide in the recovery compartment; an
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: Sachem, Inc.
    Inventors: Hossein Sharifian, David R. Hulme
  • Patent number: 5575901
    Abstract: A process is described for preparing organic and inorganic hydroxides or alkoxides, or ammonia or organic amines from the corresponding salts in an electrolysis cell which comprises an anolyte compartment containing an anode and an electrolyte solution, a catholyte compartment containing a cathode, and an intermediate compartment containing a liquid wherein said intermediate compartment is separated from the catholyte compartment by an anion selective membrane and from the anolyte compartment by a cation selective membrane, said process comprising the steps of:(A) charging to the catholyte compartment, a mixture comprising an organic or inorganic salt or an amine salt, and a liquid selected from water or organic liquids provided that sufficient water is present in the catholyte mixture to form the desired hydroxide or amine, or sufficient alcohol is present in the catholyte mixture to form the desired alkoxide;(B) passing a current through the electrolysis cell to produce the desired hydroxide, alkoxide or am
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Assignee: Sachem, Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Hulme, Hossein Sharifian