Patents by Inventor Jean-Francois Blais
Jean-Francois Blais 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).
-
Publication number: 20220332596Abstract: A process for producing magnesia can include contacting CO2-containing emissions with a magnesium-containing material to produce magnesium carbonate; subjecting the magnesium carbonate to calcination to produce a CO2 by-product and magnesia; and recycling at least a portion of the CO2 by-product for contacting the magnesium-containing material to produce the magnesium carbonate. The magnesium-containing material can include mining residues, such as phyllosilicate or chrysotile mining residue, and the magnesium carbonate produced can include precipitated nesquehonite that is subjected to calcination to produce the magnesia.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2022Publication date: October 20, 2022Inventors: Guy Mercier, Louis-César Pasquier, Nassima Kemache, Emmanuelle Cecchi, Jean-François Blais
-
Patent number: 11401168Abstract: A process for producing magnesia can include contacting CO2-containing emissions with a magnesium-containing material to produce magnesium carbonate; subjecting the magnesium carbonate to calcination to produce a CO2 by-product and magnesia; and recycling at least a portion of the CO2 by-product for contacting the magnesium-containing material to produce the magnesium carbonate. The magnesium-containing material can include mining residues, such as phyllosilicate or chrysotile mining residue, and the magnesium carbonate produced can include precipitated nesquehonite that is subjected to calcination to produce the magnesia.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2017Date of Patent: August 2, 2022Assignee: INSTITUT NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUEInventors: Guy Mercier, Louis-César Pasquier, Nassima Kemache, Emmanuelle Cecchi, Jean-François Blais
-
Publication number: 20210129973Abstract: A thermo-acoustic insulation module for an aircraft includes a fiber batt defining an exterior side, an interior side, a thickness between the exterior side and the interior side, and a periphery. The thermo-acoustic insulation module also includes a mass layer disposed at least on the exterior side of the fiber batt, on the interior side of the fiber batt, or between the exterior side and the interior side of the fiber batt. An exterior encapsulating sheet is disposed exteriorly to the exterior side of the fiber batt. Similarly, an interior encapsulating sheet disposed interiorly to the interior side of the fiber batt. A peripheral seam connects the exterior encapsulating sheet to the interior encapsulating sheet adjacent to the periphery of the fiber batt, thereby creating an envelope encapsulating the fiber batt.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2020Publication date: May 6, 2021Inventors: Carmen VOICU, Daniel LANGLOIS, Jean-Francois BLAIS
-
Patent number: 10850231Abstract: Techniques are described for chemical sequestration of carbon dioxide and production of precipitated magnesium carbonate. The process can include contacting carbon dioxide from industrial emissions with water and magnesium-containing particulate material, such as serpentinite, which is thermally pre-treated and has a particle size of at most 75 microns. The process can also include separation of the loaded aqueous stream from the solids, followed by precipitation of magnesium carbonate material that includes carbon and oxygen from industrial emissions and magnesium from serpentinite or chrysotile mining residue, for example.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2018Date of Patent: December 1, 2020Assignee: Institut National de la Recherche ScientifiqueInventors: Guy Mercier, Jean-Francois Blais, Emmanuelle Cecchi, Sanoopkumar Puthiya Veetil, Louis-Cesar Pasquier, Sandra Kentish
-
Publication number: 20190270647Abstract: A process for producing magnesia can include contacting CO2-containing emissions with a magnesium-containing material to produce magnesium carbonate; subjecting the magnesium carbonate to calcination to produce a CO2 by-product and magnesia; and recycling at least a portion of the CO2 by-product for contacting the magnesium-containing material to produce the magnesium carbonate. The magnesium-containing material can include mining residues, such as phyllosilicate or chrysotile mining residue, and the magnesium carbonate produced can include precipitated nesquehonite that is subjected to calcination to produce the magnesia.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2017Publication date: September 5, 2019Applicant: Institut National de la Recherche ScientfiqueInventors: Guy MERCIER, Louis-César PASQUIER, Nassima KEMACHE, Emmanuelle CECCHI, Jean-François BLAIS
-
Publication number: 20190070556Abstract: Techniques are described for chemical sequestration of carbon dioxide and production of precipitated magnesium carbonate. The process can include contacting carbon dioxide from industrial emissions with water and magnesium-containing particulate material, such as serpentinite, which is thermally pre-treated and has a particle size of at most 75 microns. The process can also include separation of the loaded aqueous stream from the solids, followed by precipitation of magnesium carbonate material that includes carbon and oxygen from industrial emissions and magnesium from serpentinite or chrysotile mining residue, for example.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 2018Publication date: March 7, 2019Inventors: GUY MERCIER, JEAN-FRANCOIS BLAIS, EMMANUELLE CECCHI, SANOOPKUMAR PUTHIYA VEETIL, LOUIS-CESAR PASQUIER, SANDRA KENTISH
-
Patent number: 10150079Abstract: Techniques are described for chemical sequestration of carbon dioxide and production of precipitated magnesium carbonate. The process can include contacting carbon dioxide from industrial emissions with water and magnesium-containing particulate material, such as serpentinite, which is thermally pre-treated and has a particle size of at most 75 microns. The process can also include separation of the loaded aqueous stream from the solids, followed by precipitation of magnesium carbonate material that includes carbon and oxygen from industrial emissions and magnesium from serpentinite or chrysotile mining residue, for example.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2016Date of Patent: December 11, 2018Assignee: Institute National de la Recherche ScientifiqueInventors: Guy Mercier, Jean-Francois Blais, Emmanuelle Cecchi, Sanoopkumar Puthiya Veetil, Louis-Cesar Pasquier, Sandra Kentish
-
Publication number: 20170170532Abstract: A process has been developed in order to recover and recycle the metals present in spent batteries, including alkaline spent batteries alone or mixed with other types of spent batteries. This method shows a good potential in terms of metals recoveries efficiencies and economic feasibility. Firstly, the spent batteries are crushed (optionally after having been frozen in the case of spent batteries of mixed types). Then, the undesirable parts (plastics, steel cases, papers, etc.) are removed by screening. The collected powder, containing the metals, is mixed with a solution of sulfuric acid in the presence of a reducing agent. The solid/liquid separation is carried out by filtration and the leachate is purified in order to selectively recover the metals.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2016Publication date: June 15, 2017Inventors: Jean-Francois Blais, Guy Mercier, Kulchaya TANONG, Lan Huong Tran, Lucie Coudert
-
Publication number: 20160332114Abstract: Techniques are described for chemical sequestration of carbon dioxide and production of precipitated magnesium carbonate. The process can include contacting carbon dioxide from industrial emissions with water and magnesium-containing particulate material, such as serpentinite, which is thermally pre-treated and has a particle size of at most 75 microns. The process can also include separation of the loaded aqueous stream from the solids, followed by precipitation of magnesium carbonate material that includes carbon and oxygen from industrial emissions and magnesium from serpentinite or chrysotile mining residue, for example.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2016Publication date: November 17, 2016Inventors: Guy Mercier, Jean-Francois Blais, Emmanuelle Cecchi, Sanoopkumar Puthiya Veetil, Louis-Cesar Pasquier, Sandra Kentish
-
Patent number: 9440189Abstract: Processes, methods, system and uses in relation to chemical sequestration of carbon dioxide from a carbon dioxide containing gas by carbonation of an alkaline earth metal containing material. The carbon dioxide containing gas is contacted with an aqueous slurry in a carbonation unit for carbonation of at least a portion of the alkaline earth metal to produce a carbon dioxide depleted gas and a carbonate loaded slurry which is substantially exempt of precipitated alkaline earth. metal carbonates. The carbonate loaded slurry is then separated into an aqueous phase and a solid phase; and the aqueous phase is supplied to a precipitation unit for precipitating alkaline earth metal carbonates. The carbonation stage may be performed at a carbonation temperature between about 10° C. and about 40° C. and a carbonation pressure between about 1 bar and about 20 bars. The solid phase may be recycled to the carbonation stage.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2013Date of Patent: September 13, 2016Assignee: INSTITUT NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE (INRS)Inventors: Guy Mercier, Jean-Francois Blais, Emmanuelle Cecchi, Sanoopkumar Puthiya Veetil, Louis-Cesar Pasquier, Sandra Kentish
-
Patent number: 9199200Abstract: The present document describes a process and a bioreactor for reducing a bisphenol compound content of a wastewater using a membrane bioreactor containing a biomass in a volatile suspended solid (VSS) form where the biomass in the membrane bioreactor is operating continuously to reduce bisphenol compound content when the bisphenol compound volumetric load is below 108 g m?3 d?1.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2011Date of Patent: December 1, 2015Assignees: Centre de Recherche Industrielle de Québec (CRIQ), Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS)Inventors: Patrick Drogui, Brahima Seyhi, Gerardo Buelna, Jean-François Blais
-
Patent number: 9073106Abstract: A process for decontaminating a medium polluted with metals and hydrophobic organic compounds (HOC) includes providing an acidic slurry of water, acid, chloride salt, surfactant, and the polluted medium. Flotation is preformed on the acidic slurry to form a HOC-rich froth and an HOC-depleted slurry and the froth is recovered. The slurry is separated to obtain a treated solid and a liquid effluent rich in metallic ions. Preferably, the process also includes recuperating the metals by chemical precipitation and/or electrodeposition to produce a treated solution. Also provided are a decontaminant having an acid, a chloride salt, and a surfactant as well as a chemical kit for decontaminating the polluted medium including the decontaminant in which the acid, chloride salt and surfactant can be mixed with polluted medium in the presence of water before removing at least a portion of the metals and HOC from the polluted medium.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2008Date of Patent: July 7, 2015Assignee: INSTITUT NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUEInventors: Guy Mercier, Jean-Francois Blais, Julia Mouton, Patrick Drogui, Myriam Chartier
-
Publication number: 20150030523Abstract: Processes, methods, system and uses in relation to chemical sequestration of carbon dioxide from a carbon dioxide containing gas by carbonation of an alkaline earth metal containing material. The carbon dioxide containing gas is contacted with an aqueous slurry in a carbonation unit for carbonation of at least a portion of the alkaline earth metal to produce a carbon dioxide depleted gas and a carbonate loaded slurry which is substantially exempt of precipitated alkaline earth. metal carbonates, The carbonate loaded slurry is then separated into an aqueous phase and a solid phase; and the aqueous phase is supplied to a precipitation unit for precipitating alkaline earth metal carbonates. The carbonation stage may be performed at a carbonation temperature between about 10° C. and about 40° C. and a carbonation pressure between about 1 bar and about 20 bars. The solid phase may be recycled to the carbonation stage.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2013Publication date: January 29, 2015Inventors: Guy Mercier, Jean-Francois Blais, Emmanuelle Cecchi, Sanoopkumar Puthiya Veetil, Louis-Cesar Pasquier, Sandra Kentish
-
Publication number: 20130012752Abstract: A process for decontaminating a medium polluted with metals and hydrophobic organic compounds (HOC) includes providing an acidic slurry of water, acid, chloride salt, surfactant, and the polluted medium. Flotation is preformed on the acidic slurry to form a HOC-rich froth and an HOC-depleted slurry and the froth is recovered. The slurry is separated to obtain a treated solid and a liquid effluent rich in metallic ions. Preferably, the process also includes recuperating the metals by chemical precipitation and/or electrodeposition to produce a treated solution. Also provided are a decontaminant having an acid, a chloride salt, and a surfactant as well as a chemical kit for decontaminating the polluted medium including the decontaminant in which the acid, chloride salt and surfactant can be mixed with polluted medium in the presence of water before removing at least a portion of the metals and HOC from the polluted medium.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2010Publication date: January 10, 2013Applicant: INSTITUT NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE (INRS)Inventors: Guy MERCIER, Jean-Francois BLAIS, Julia MOUTON, Patrick DROGUI, Myriam CHARTIER
-
Publication number: 20110315629Abstract: The present document describes a process and a bioreactor for reducing a bisphenol compound content of a wastewater using a membrane bioreactor containing a biomass in a volatile suspended solid (VSS) form where the biomass in the membrane bioreactor is operating continuously to reduce bisphenol compound content when the bisphenol compound volumetric load is below 108 g m?3 d?1.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2011Publication date: December 29, 2011Applicants: Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS), Centre de recherche industrielle du Quebec (CRIQInventors: Patrick DROGUI, Brahima SEYHI, Gerardo BUELNA, Jean-François BLAIS
-
Publication number: 20110108063Abstract: Described is a process for decontaminating wood treated with preservative such as chromium copper arsenate (CCA) including contacting the contaminated wood with water and inorganic acid at a concentration between 0.05 and 0.8 N at less than 100° C. to leach out the contaminants and then separate the wood from the solution. Also described is a process for extracting metals such as copper from a solution containing chromium, copper and arsenic, such as the leachate solution used to decontaminate CCA-treated wood, by precipitation using a coagulant at a pH favoring precipitation of arsenic and continued solubility of copper, or by ion exchange resins.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2009Publication date: May 12, 2011Inventors: Jean-Francois Blais, Guy Mercier, Patrick Drogui, Amelie Janin
-
Publication number: 20090095686Abstract: A process for treating a waste material coming from aluminum production, the waste material containing contaminants polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and inorganic fluoride compounds containing fluoride ions, involves flotation of a waste mixture of the waste material in the presence of a surfactant capable of producing PAH-rich micelles that are floated to produce froth containing the PAH-rich micelles; and stabilization of the waste mixture by adding a fluoride ion stabilizer to form stabilized fluoride compounds with reduced solubility in the waste mixture and in a toxicity characteristics leaching procedure test, to produce decontaminated solids containing the stabilized fluoride compounds and a leachate solution.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 12, 2008Publication date: April 16, 2009Inventors: Myriam Chartier, Aurelie Dhenain, Guy Mercier, Jean-Francois Blais, Patrick Drogui, Ghislain Bongo
-
Patent number: 7497956Abstract: The invention concerns a method for stabilizing and conditioning wastewater sludge. The invention is characterized in that it consists in treating sludge in an acid environment (3.0?pH?5.0), with an inorganic acid and two oxidizing agents, that is a ferric iron salt and hydrogen peroxide. The ferric iron salt is used in such an amount as to obtain a concentration ranging between 5 and 40 kg of Fe per ton of dry sludge; the hydrogen peroxide is used in such an amount as to obtain a concentration ranging between 5 and 40 kg of H2O2 per ton of dry sludge; mixing the treated sludge for a time interval sufficient to stabilize the sludge and improve its dehydrability; then flocculating the stabilized sludge by adding an organic polymer; then dehydrating the flocculated sludge. Said method enables to significantly improve the dehydrability properties of the sludge while increasing the dry solid content during its mechanical dehydration.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2002Date of Patent: March 3, 2009Assignee: Corporation BiolixInventors: Jean-François Blais, Guy Mercier, Patrick Drogui
-
Publication number: 20070029243Abstract: A method of treating animal manure yielding a final liquid fraction and solid fractions whereby the final liquid fraction has a suspended solids (SS) content of about 3g/L or lower comprising subjecting at least a part of said manure to a first biological passive flotation step in a flotation unit having a hydraulic residency time (HRT) of about 4 to about 24 hours with a polymer to yield a first flotation solid fraction and a first flotation liquid fraction, said method comprising a further treatment.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2006Publication date: February 8, 2007Inventors: Jean-Francois Blais, Guy Mercier, Genevieve Belanger, Myriam Chartier, Danielle Leblanc
-
Patent number: 7156999Abstract: A method of treating animal manure yielding a final liquid fraction and solid fractions whereby the final liquid fraction has a suspended solids (SS) content of about 3 g/L or lower comprising subjecting at least a part of said manure to a first biological passive flotation step in a flotation unit having a hydraulic residency time (HRT) of about 4 to about 24 hours with a polymer to yield a first flotation solid fraction and a first flotation liquid fraction, said method comprising a further treatment.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2003Date of Patent: January 2, 2007Assignee: Institut National de la Recherche ScientifiqueInventors: Jean-François Blais, Guy Mercier, Geneviève Bélanger, Myriam Chartier, Danielle Leblanc