Patents by Inventor Donial M. Felton

Donial M. Felton 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).

  • Methods of processing solutions of potassium sulfate and magnesium sulfate, methods of producing potassium sulfate, and related systems
    Patent number: 9139446
    Abstract: Methods of processing an aqueous solution comprising potassium sulfate and magnesium sulfate include crystallizing K2SO4, crystallizing recycle crystals, and mixing at least a portion of the recycle crystals with the aqueous solution. Systems for processing potassium sulfate and magnesium sulfate include a first crystallizer and a second crystallizer in fluid communication with the second mix tank. The second crystallizer is structured and adapted to precipitate recycle crystals from the concentrated liquor to form a potassium-depleted recycle brine. The recycle crystals precipitated in the second crystallizer have a composition suitable to be recycled to the first crystallizer to increase the production of SOP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: INTERCONTINENTAL POTASH CORP. (USA)
    Inventors: Steven L. Chastain, Michael J. Morrison, Richard W. Chastain, Donial M. Felton, Thomas H. Neuman
  • METHODS OF PROCESSING SOLUTIONS OF POTASSIUM SULFATE AND MAGNESIUM SULFATE, METHODS OF PRODUCING POTASSIUM SULFATE, AND RELATED SYSTEMS
    Publication number: 20140334995
    Abstract: Methods of processing an aqueous solution comprising potassium sulfate and magnesium sulfate include crystallizing K2SO4, crystallizing recycle crystals, and mixing at least a portion of the recycle crystals with the aqueous solution. Systems for processing potassium sulfate and magnesium sulfate include a first crystallizer and a second crystallizer in fluid communication with the second mix tank. The second crystallizer is structured and adapted to precipitate recycle crystals from the concentrated liquor to form a potassium-depleted recycle brine. The recycle crystals precipitated in the second crystallizer have a composition suitable to be recycled to the first crystallizer to increase the production of SOP.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Inventors: Steven L. CHASTAIN, Michael J. MORRISON, Richard W. CHASTAIN, Donial M. FELTON, Thomas H. NEUMAN
  • Methods of processing solutions of potassium sulfate and magnesium sulfate, methods of producing potassium sulfate, and related systems
    Patent number: 8802048
    Abstract: Methods of processing an aqueous solution comprising potassium sulfate and magnesium sulfate include crystallizing K2SO4, crystallizing recycle crystals, and mixing at least a portion of the recycle crystals with the aqueous solution. Systems for processing potassium sulfate and magnesium sulfate include a first crystallizer and a second crystallizer in fluid communication with the second mix tank. The second crystallizer is structured and adapted to precipitate recycle crystals from the concentrated liquor to form a potassium-depleted recycle brine. The recycle crystals precipitated in the second crystallizer have a composition suitable to be recycled to the first crystallizer to increase the production of SOP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Intercontinental Potash Corp. (USA)
    Inventors: Steven L. Chastain, Michael J. Morrison, Richard W. Chastain, Donial M. Felton, Thomas H. Neuman
  • METHODS OF PROCESSING SOLUTIONS OF POTASSIUM SULFATE AND MAGNESIUM SULFATE, METHODS OF PRODUCING POTASSIUM SULFATE, AND RELATED SYSTEMS
    Publication number: 20140072507
    Abstract: Methods of processing an aqueous solution comprising potassium sulfate and magnesium sulfate include crystallizing K2SO4, crystallizing recycle crystals, and mixing at least a portion of the recycle crystals with the aqueous solution. Systems for processing potassium sulfate and magnesium sulfate include a first crystallizer and a second crystallizer in fluid communication with the second mix tank. The second crystallizer is structured and adapted to precipitate recycle crystals from the concentrated liquor to form a potassium-depleted recycle brine. The recycle crystals precipitated in the second crystallizer have a composition suitable to be recycled to the first crystallizer to increase the production of SOP.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: INTERCONTINENTAL POTASH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven L. CHASTAIN, Michael J. MORRISON, Richard W. CHASTAIN, Donial M. FELTON, Thomas H. NEUMAN
  • Methods of processing polyhalite ore, methods of producing potassium sulfate, and related systems
    Patent number: 8551429
    Abstract: Methods of forming potassium sulfate include calcining polyhalite ore particles to convert the polyhalite ore particles to a water-soluble composition. At least a portion of the water-soluble composition is dissolved in an aqueous medium to form an aqueous solution comprising K+, Mg2+, and SO42? ions and a calcium-containing solid. The calcium-containing solid is separated from the aqueous solution to form a filtrate comprising K+, Mg2+, and SO42? ions. A potassium-containing salt is dissolved in the filtrate to increase the concentration of K+ and SO42? ions to from a concentrated liquor, and K2SO4 is crystallized from the concentrated liquor. A system for processing polyhalite ore includes a countercurrent leaching apparatus, a first mix tank, an evaporator, and at least one crystallizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Intercontinental Potash Corp. (USA)
    Inventors: Thomas H. Neuman, Richard W. Chastain, Donial M. Felton, Daniel C. Neuman, Otto C. Schnauber