Patents by Inventor Johannes Theodorus Nel
Johannes Theodorus Nel 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).
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Patent number: 9468975Abstract: A process for treating a zirconium containing feedstock includes fluorinating a feedstock comprising dissociated zircon (‘DZ’) to obtain a zirconium fluorine compound and a silicon fluorine compound. The zirconium fluorine compound is separated from the silicon fluorine compound is provided. Optionally, the zirconium fluorine compound is reacted with a non-fluorine halogen, an alkali metal non-fluorine halide or an alkaline-earth metal non-fluorine halide, thereby to obtain a zirconium non-fluorine halide. The zirconium fluorine compound or, when present, the zirconium non-fluorine halide is subjected to plasma reduction, in a plasma reduction stage, in the presence of a reductant, to obtain metallic zirconium.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2012Date of Patent: October 18, 2016Assignee: The South African Nuclear Energy Corporation LimitedInventors: Johannes Theodorus Nel, Willem Liebenberg Retief, Johan Louis Havenga, Wilhelmina Du Plessis, Johannes Petrus Le Roux
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Patent number: 9416431Abstract: A process for treating a feedstock is provided. The feedstock comprises a mineral and/or a metal oxide/silicate derived from or associated with a mineral. The process comprises treating the feedstock by reacting, in a reaction step, the mineral and/or the metal oxide/silicate derived from or associated with a mineral, with an ammonium acid fluoride having the generic formula NH4F.xHF, wherein 1<x?5. An ammonium fluorometallate compound is produced as a reaction product.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2010Date of Patent: August 16, 2016Assignee: The South African Nuclear Energy Corporation LimitedInventors: Willem Liebenberg Retief, Nelius Dempers Retief, Johannes Theodorus Nel, Wilhelmina Du Plessis, Philippus Lodewyk Crouse, Johannes Petrus Le Roux
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Publication number: 20140238195Abstract: A process for treating a zirconium containing feedstock includes fluorinating a feedstock comprising dissociated zircon (‘DZ’) to obtain a zirconium fluorine compound and a silicon fluorine compound. The zirconium fluorine compound is separated from the silicon fluorine compound is provided. Optionally, the zirconium fluorine compound is reacted with a non-fluorine halogen, an alkali metal non-fluorine halide or an alkaline-earth metal non-fluorine halide, thereby to obtain a zirconium non-fluorine halide. The zirconium fluorine compound or, when present, the zirconium non-fluorine halide is subjected to plasma reduction, in a plasma reduction stage, in the presence of a reductant, to obtain metallic zirconium.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2012Publication date: August 28, 2014Applicant: The South African Nuclear Energy Corporation LimitedInventors: Johannes Theodorus Nel, Willem Liebenberg Retief, Johan Louis Havenga, Wilhelmina Du Plessis, Johannes Petrus Le Roux
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Patent number: 8778291Abstract: A process for treating a zirconia-based material comprises reacting, in a reaction step, the zirconia-based material with ammonium bifluoride, NH4F.HF. An ammonium fluorozirconic compound is produced.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2010Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: The South African Nuclear Energy Corporation LimitedInventors: Johannes Theodorus Nel, Wilhelmina Du Plessis, Philippus Lodewyk Crouse, Nelius Dempers Retief
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Patent number: 8512441Abstract: A process for recovering a gaseous component comprising at least one fluorine-containing compound from a mixture of gaseous compounds. The process includes, in a separation zone (12), bringing a mixture of gaseous constituents, including at least one fluorine-containing constituent, into contact with a gas permeable separating medium (16) comprising a polymeric compound, so that a first gaseous component comprising at least one fluorine-containing constituent is separated from a second gaseous component comprising the balance of the gaseous constituents. The first gaseous component is withdrawn from the separation zone as a permeate (34) or a retentate, while the second gaseous component is withdrawn from the separation zone as the retentate (26), when the first gaseous component is withdrawn as the permeate, and as the permeate, when the first gaseous component is withdrawn as the retentate.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2009Date of Patent: August 20, 2013Assignees: The South African Nuclear Energy Corporation Limited, North-West UniversityInventors: Johannes Theodorus Nel, Izak Jacobus Van Der Walt, Alfred Teo Grunenberg, Odolphus Simon Leo Bruinsma, Marco Le Roux, Henning Manfred Krieg, Sanette Marx
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Publication number: 20130011329Abstract: A process for treating a zirconia-based material comprises reacting, in a reaction step, the zirconia-based material with ammonium bifluoride, NH4F.HF. An ammonium fluorozirconic compound is produced.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2010Publication date: January 10, 2013Inventors: Willem Liebenberg Retief, Nelius Dempers Refief, Johannes Theodorus Nel, Wilhelmina Du Plessis, Philippus Lodewyk Crouse
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Publication number: 20120328496Abstract: A process for treating a feedstock is provided. The feedstock comprises a mineral and/or a metal oxide/silicate derived from or associated with a mineral. The process comprises treating the feedstock by reacting, in a reaction step, the mineral and/or the metal oxide/silicate derived from or associated with a mineral, with an ammonium acid fluoride having the generic formula NH4F.xHF, wherein 1<x?5. An ammonium fluorometallate compound is produced as a reaction product.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2010Publication date: December 27, 2012Inventors: Willem Liebenberg Retief, Nelius Dempers Retief, Johannes Theodorus Nel, Wilhelmina Du Plessis, Philippus Lodewyk Crouse, Johannes Petrus Le Roux
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Patent number: 8212091Abstract: A process for depolymerizing fluoropolymers includes continuously feeding a solid fluoropolymer, in particulate form, into a horizontal cylindrical first reaction zone. The fluoropolymer particles enter the first reaction zone at one end. Within the first reaction zone, a central axle from which protrudes at least one paddle, continuously rotates. The rotating paddle serves to advance the fluoropolymer particles along the reaction zone while agitating them. As the fluoropolymer particles pass along the reaction zone, they are subjected to an elevated temperature, thereby depolymerizing the fluoropolymer into a fluoro-containing compound-rich gas phase. A residual solids phase is withdrawn at the other end of the first reaction zone, as is the gas phase. Optionally, the gas phase is passed through a second reaction zone which is also at an elevated temperature. The gas phase is quenched, thereby to recover the fluoro-containing compounds as gaseous products.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2006Date of Patent: July 3, 2012Assignee: The South African Nuclear Energy Corporation LimitedInventors: Izak Jacobus Van Der Walt, Alfred Teo Grunenberg, Johannes Theodorus Nel
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Publication number: 20110094377Abstract: A process for recovering a gaseous component comprising at least one fluorine-containing compound from a mixture of gaseous compounds. The process includes, in a separation zone (12), bringing a mixture of gaseous constituents, including at least one fluorine-containing constituent, into contact with a gas permeable separating medium (16) comprising a polymeric compound, so that a first gaseous component comprising at least one fluorine-containing constituent is separated from a second gaseous component comprising the balance of the gaseous constituents. The first gaseous component is withdrawn from the separation zone as a permeate (34) or a retentate, while the second gaseous component is withdrawn from the separation zone as the retentate (26), when the first gaseous component is withdrawn as the permeate, and as the permeate, when the first gaseous component is withdrawn as the retentate.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 6, 2009Publication date: April 28, 2011Inventors: Johannes Theodorus Nel, Jacobus Van der Walt, Alfred Teo Grunenberg, Odolphus Simon Les Bruisma, Marco Le Roux, Henning Manfred Krieg, Sanette Marx
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Publication number: 20090149679Abstract: A process for depolymerizing fluoropolymers includes continuously feeding a solid fluoropolymer, in particulate form, into a horizontal cylindrical first reaction zone. The fluoropolymer particles enter the first reaction zone at one end. Within the first reaction zone, a central axle from which protrudes at least one paddle, continuously rotates. The rotating paddle serves to advance the fluoropolymer particles along the reaction zone while agitating them. As the fluoropolymer particles pass along the reaction zone, they are subjected to an elevated temperature, thereby depolymerizing the fluoropolymer into a fluoro-containing compound-rich gas phase. A residual solids phase is withdrawn at the other end of the first reaction zone, as is the gas phase. Optionally, the gas phase is passed through a second reaction zone which is also at an elevated temperature. The gas phase is quenched, thereby to recover the fluoro-containing compounds as gaseous products.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2006Publication date: June 11, 2009Inventors: Izak Jacobus Van Der Walt, Alfred Teo Grunenberg, Johannes Theodorus Nel
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Patent number: 5958355Abstract: A process for reacting a zirconia-based material comprises reacting, in a reaction step, plasma dissociated zircon with aqueous hydrogen fluoride to produce a soluble fluoro zirconic acid compound.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 1997Date of Patent: September 28, 1999Assignee: Atomic Energy Corporation of South Africa LimitedInventor: Johannes Theodorus Nel