Patents by Inventor Donald B. Stain

Donald B. Stain 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: 4956154
    Abstract: Aqueous effluent solutions containing metal cations may be treated with an extractant comprising an organophosphinic acid, a di-2-ethylhexyl phosphoric acid and/or an aliphatic amine to selectively separate chromium, nickel, cobalt, copper and lead cations from the aqueous solution. Typical extraction techniques include liquid-liquid extraction employing either mixer settlers or columns, liquid membrane extraction and selective supported membrane extraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1990
    Assignee: UNC Reclamation
    Inventors: Alex Magdics, Donald B. Stain
  • Patent number: 4885148
    Abstract: Relatively pure monopotassium phosphate is produced from wet process phosphoric acid in a process wherein the phosphoric acid is mixed with potassium chloride and recycled components from downstream product and by-product recovery steps and heated to permit hydrogen and chloride to evolve from the melt as gases and wherein the melt is subsequently treated so as to remove impurities so that the monopotassium phosphate may be recovered as a relatively pure crystalline product with low chloride content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1989
    Assignee: Phosphate Engineering & Construction Co., Inc.
    Inventors: William R. Erickson, Donald B. Stain, James D. Wilson
  • Patent number: 4588573
    Abstract: Potassium chloride and sulfuric acid are reacted in a recycled aqueous solution in the stoichiometric ratio required for potassium sulfate production. Hydrogen chloride produced by the reaction of the potassium chloride and sulfuric acid is evaporated in admixture with water or in anhdrous form. The resulting solution is cooled to crystallize a potassium sulfate salt, preferably potassium bisulfate. The potassium sulfate salt is separated from the mother liquor and the mother liquor is recycled to the reaction step. The potassium sulfate salt is dissolved in an aqueous solution and sequentially decomposed to produce potassium sulfate and a mother liquor rich in sulfuric acid. The mother liquor rich in sulfuric acid is concentrated and recycled to the reaction step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1986
    Assignee: Prodeco, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph E. Worthington, Alex Magdics, Donald B. Stain
  • Patent number: 4554151
    Abstract: A process for producing K.sub.2 SO.sub.4 from potassium chloride salts, calcium sulfate salts and another sulfate source wherein syngenite is formed and then decomposed with mineral acid to produce crystalline K.sub.3 H(SO.sub.4).sub.2. The K.sub.3 H(SO.sub.4).sub.2 crystals are recrystallized to produce K.sub.2 SO.sub.4 crystals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1985
    Assignee: Prodeco, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph E. Worthington, Alex Magdics, Donald B. Stain
  • Patent number: 4439405
    Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for producing a dispersion of substantially immiscible liquids which employs a conduit having an upstream section divided into first and second channels of variable length and a downstream section for mixing the liquids. The apparatus also includes means for varying the length of the first and second channels and means for flowing the liquids separately through the channels whereby the liquids mix in the downstream section of the conduit to form the dispersion. In accordance with one embodiment, a conventional mixer-settler is modified to include the conduit mounted at an upstream end of the settling chamber so that its inlet is adjacent the mixing chamber and its outlet is approximately at the same height as the organic-aqueous interface in the settling chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1984
    Assignee: UNC Recovery Corporation
    Inventors: Ernst C. Bailey, William E. Vickers, Donald B. Stain
  • Patent number: 4404173
    Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for producing a dispersion of substantially immiscible liquids which employs a conduit having an upstream section divided into first and second channels of variable length and a downstream section for mixing the liquids. The apparatus also includes means for varying the length of the first and second channels and means for flowing the liquids separately through the channels whereby the liquids mix in the downstream section of the conduit to form the dispersion. In accordance with one embodiment, a conventional mixer-settler is modified to include the conduit mounted at an upstream end of the settling chamber so that its inlet is adjacent the mixing chamber and its outlet is approximately at the same height as the organic-aqueous interface in the settling chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1980
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1983
    Assignee: UNC Recovery Corporation
    Inventors: Ernst C. Bailey, William E. Vickers, Donald B. Stain